Teen kills mom, brothers in Emory, Texas

March 6, 2008

Not sure many of you know about this case in Emory, Tx., but it’s particularly interesting to me because I grew up in Sulphur Springs, located about 10-15 miles away.
Emory was a stone’s throw from where I lived. Heck, I hit my first home run in high school baseball against Emory. I covered this town as a sports reporter for the Sulphur Springs News Telegram. As for Alba (mentioned in the last paragraph), I know this town well too.
Strange stuff.

Records: TX Attack Was Plotted for Month

EMORY, Texas (AP) — A high school couple forced to break up spent a month plotting to kill the girl’s parents before her mother and two younger brothers were fatally shot and stabbed in a weekend ambush, according to records released Monday.
Charlie James Wilkinson, who had been dating Penny and Terry Caffey’s 16-year-old daughter, told police his girlfriend wanted her parents dead because they forbade their relationship, according to Rains County Sheriff Department investigators.
“Wilkinson stated that he and (the girl) were in love and the only way they could be together is to kill the parents,” the arrest affidavit stated.
The daughter, Wilkinson and two others are charged with three counts of capital murder each in the massacre before dawn Saturday at the Caffeys’ secluded home. The girl has not been identified because of her age.
The statements depict a bloody spree that began just around 4 a.m., when Wilkinson and a friend broke into the house and are accused of firing shots at the parents while they slept. Wilkinson and Charles Allen Waid are then accused of going upstairs and fatally shooting 13-year-old Mathew Caffey before stabbing 8-year-old Tyler Caffey with a sword.
Wilkinson and Waid then set fire to furniture and laundry before leaving with the Caffeys’ daughter and Bobbi Gale Johnson, who were waiting in a car parked down the road, according to the affidavit.
The lone survivor was Terry Caffey, the father. He was shot five times and dragged his bloodied body 300 yards to a neighbor’s home. Tommy Gaston, the neighbor, said Monday that Terry Caffey was improving and should recover.
The killings stunned this town of 1,500 in rural East Texas, where the Caffeys were known as deeply religious and kindhearted.
The Caffeys’ daughter is being held on $1.5 million bond. Facing the same charges and bond are Wilkinson, 19, Waid, 20, and Johnson, 18.
Waid, Johnson and Wilkinson are being held in the Rains County jail. The Caffeys’ daughter is being held in neighboring Hunt County’s juvenile detention center. It remained unclear early Monday whether they had attorneys.
The Caffeys’ home was just outside Emory in Alba, about 60 miles northeast of Dallas.

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6 Comments Add your own

  • 1. emilypage  |  March 6, 2008 at 11:14 pm

    That is so tragic. How in the world did they think that killing her parents would allow them to be together? Scary.

    Reply
  • 2. Mary Hyland  |  March 8, 2008 at 7:03 am

    I live in Emory and had just gotten acquainted with Penny Caffey. She was the prettiest petite blond, when she walked into a room and you saw her, you just felt better. She was an angel that was called home, I guess. I have never hated or loved anyone enough to consider what these kids did. All I can say is this whole town is broken hearted. I’m just so sorry.

    Reply
  • 3. katie  |  May 2, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    that is absoutly horrible. Why would anyone do that?!?!?

    Reply
  • 4. Mikki  |  August 31, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    I grew up in Sulphur Springs as well, but I did not know about this. I do know that several of my classmates have died in awful ways. It seems the teens in small towns should have more people to turn before committing suicide, murder, etc. My heart goes out to the small town communities.

    Reply
  • 5. Juanda  |  January 14, 2009 at 11:56 am

    i went to school and church with the girl and we became really good friends

    Reply
  • 6. Emory observer  |  June 26, 2009 at 6:07 pm

    Heres a site with lots of info aboutr Emory tx.

    emoryobserver.com

    Reply

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