Thomas Whisenhant: The Dark Legacy of a Serial Killer

Overview

Thomas Warren Whisenhant (January 29, 1947 – May 27, 2010) was an American serial killer whose chilling acts of violence claimed the lives of at least four women between 1963 and 1976 in Mobile County, Alabama. Whisenhant's reign of terror began as a teenager and culminated in a death sentence that would see him spend an astonishing 32 years on death row, making him Alabama's longest-serving inmate before his execution via lethal injection in 2010.

Quick Facts

• Born: January 29, 1947, Prichard, Alabama, U.S.
• Died: May 27, 2010 (aged 63), Holman Correctional Facility, Alabama, U.S.
• Criminal Status: Executed by lethal injection
• Convictions: Capital murder (1 count), Military assault with intent to commit murder
• Criminal Penalty:
  • Military: 20 years imprisonment with hard labor (commuted to 10 years)
  • Alabama: Death (September 7, 1977)
• Victims: 4+
• Span of Crimes: May 6, 1963 – October 16, 1976
• Date Apprehended: October 17, 1976

Early Life

Thomas Warren Whisenhant was born into a tumultuous environment. Growing up as the youngest of four children, he was the product of a troubled household led by his domineering mother, Emma, who often clashed with his alcoholic father, Willie. The atmosphere was charged with conflict, with Emma encouraging her children to stand against their father's drunken advances. Whisenhant's early years were marked by an unhealthy attachment to his mother—he shared a bed with her until the age of seven and continued to share a bedroom with her well into his teenage years. By this time, family members noted a marked change in Whisenhant's demeanor, as he became increasingly moody and violent, likely stemming from this overbearing maternal influence.

Murders

Whisenhant's criminal activities began at a disturbingly young age. On May 6, 1963, tragedy struck when 72-year-old widow Lexie Haynes was shot to death in Prichard. Police discovered the murder weapon in an empty lot adjacent to the Whisenhant family home, immediately raising suspicions about Thomas, who was just 16 at the time. Although he had previously faced charges for robbing a blind woman—charges later dropped due to technicalities—Whisenhant's family provided him with a dubious alibi for the murder. Witnesses reported that he had been playing with a stolen handgun shortly before Haynes's death, and a conversation between Haynes and Whisenhant about his reckless behavior further fueled the police's suspicions. For reasons unknown, he was never prosecuted for this crime.

After this incident, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where his violent tendencies resurfaced. On October 25, 1965, while stationed at Ent Air Force Base in Colorado, he brutally attacked 22-year-old Rose Covington with a metal ashtray in the finance office. Covington suffered severe injuries and spent two months in the hospital. Although she testified during Whisenhant's trial that she had never met him, forensic evidence, including shoe prints that matched his, ultimately led to his conviction for assault with intent to commit murder in March 1966. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison but had his sentence reduced to 10 years and was paroled on November 28, 1973.

The violence escalated further. On November 21, 1975, Whisenhant murdered 28-year-old Patricia Hitt, a mother of two, after beating her and shooting her in the head. Initially, two other men were arrested for her murder, but the case would soon lead back to Whisenhant.

Then came the horrific murder of 44-year-old Venora Hyatt on April 16, 1976. Whisenhant kidnapped her from a convenience store and took her to a secluded area, where he killed and mutilated her body, later gifting her wristwatch to his wife—a detail that underscores the chilling nature of his crimes.

Finally, on October 16, 1976, Whisenhant abducted 23-year-old Cheryl Lynn Payton from a Compact Store. He raped her in his truck before murdering her with a .32 caliber pistol and abandoning her body in the woods.

Capture and Trials

The very next day, October 17, 1976, Whisenhant returned to the scene of his latest crime, displaying a shocking audacity. While attempting to further mutilate Payton's body, he was spotted by witnesses, leading to a police chase that culminated in his arrest. During interrogation, Whisenhant confessed to not only the murder of Payton but also to the killings of Hitt and Hyatt, and even to the earlier murder of Haynes. He admitted to his violent past, including the assault on Covington and attacks on other women, including his wife, though he insisted that Payton was the only victim he raped.

The media frenzy surrounding his case prompted a change of venue for his trial, which was moved to Birmingham. On August 1, 1977, Whisenhant pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the jury found him guilty of capital murder on August 9. He was sentenced to death on September 7, 1977.

In a bizarre twist, Kenneth Lynn Curry, Verona Hyatt's son, attempted to avenge his mother's death by kidnapping and robbing a taxi driver in a bid to land in prison with Whisenhant.

Whisenhant's initial conviction was overturned by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, leading to a retrial in 1981, where he was again convicted. Although his conviction was upheld, a remark made by the prosecutor during sentencing led to the overturning of his death sentence. After a new hearing, he was sentenced to death once more in 1987.

Execution

Whisenhant's journey through the justice system was long and fraught with delays due to appeals and legal errors. However, the state of Alabama was finally able to set an execution date. On May 27, 2010, Whisenhant was executed by lethal injection at Holman Correctional Facility near Atmore, Alabama. His last meal was a modest combination of chicken leg quarters, french fries, American cheese, orange drink, coffee, and chocolate pudding. Remarkably, he declined to make a final statement—a stark contrast to the violent life he had led. At the time of his execution, he had spent an astonishing 32 years, 8 months, and 20 days on death row.

Conclusion

Thomas Whisenhant’s life and crimes are a haunting reminder of the complexities of human behavior and the dark paths that can emerge from troubled beginnings. He remains a notorious figure in the annals of American crime, a symbol of the societal and psychological issues that can lead to unspeakable violence.

Sources

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Source Wikipedia