She was instantly taken with him, and Charlie too seemed to be infatuated. I found out that Tyler, eight-year-old little Tyler, was hiding upstairs in a closet and the two killers, Charlie and Charles [Waid], took turns stabbing him to death, Caffey said. However, he still visits Erin in prison in Greenville, according to ABC News. Terry heard his son Matthew cry out, No, Charlie. But Erin was insistent. The Caffey family had been attacked and killed earlier that morning, Fischer informed him. Well, Id read the story countless times before, but I read it again and it was almost like I was there with Job. When Erin came home that afternoon, her father and mother were waiting for her in the living room. The helpless father drifted out of consciousness as Tyler was shot in the face and Matthew was brutally killed when the pair took turns using the sword on him. One was shot in the face and the second was killed with a sword, according to Texas Monthly. It didnt take long for Erin Caffeys kidnapping story to fall apart. "About 3:00 in the morning, Penny and I would be awoken to the sound of our door knob hitting our dryer in the laundry room, which was next to our bedroom," Terry tells The 700 Club. But Erinwhose jubilant singing often brought parishioners to their feetturned in a listless, halfhearted performance. Wilkinson and Waid both told police the same story: the murders were all her idea. They fired a bullet in his 13-year-old son Matthew's face and stabbed 8-year-old Tyler to death in . "They burst into our bedroom and opened fire, shooting me several times." Caffey also said Why did a small-town girl have her family brutally murdered? He told sheriffs deputies that it was Charlie Wilkinson. Terry and Penny had wanted to be closer to Miracle Faith, where they were then serving as the churchs youth ministers. An instant later the teen opened fire, killing Terry's wife, his two sons, and wounding him 12 times, before setting the house ablaze. I didnt want to grow into a bitter angry old man. On March 1, 2008, most of the deeply religious Caffey family, of Emory, Texas, was slaughtered in the dead of night with .22 caliber bullets and swords before their humble, cabin-style home was burned to the ground. However, her parents were not in support of their . He had met Erin at the Sonic a few weeks before the start of his senior year, having just returned home from boot camp at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, with his Texas National Guard unit. VISITING PRISON Once a month Terry travels to Gatesville, Texas and visits Erin in prison. May 13, 2016 11:27am. Earlier that day, Penny had stopped by the local library, at her sisters suggestion, and gone online to look at Charlies MySpace profile, which had included comments about having sex and getting drunk. A former special-ed student with a heavy-lidded gaze, Waid showed no remorse, and he casually recounted how he had killed the two boys. Spent shell casings lay scattered across the carpet, and next to the mattress sat a box of ammunition. The only survivors were 16-year-old Erin Caffey and her father, Terry Caffey, who was shot multiple times before the two intruders set the house on fire. Caffey said he has talked to his daughter about what happened the night of the murders and he said Erin is "very remorseful," but claims she did not initially plot to kill her family. All of them played instruments, and Erin used to sing so passionately during services that she would sometimes break down in tears, according to Texas Monthly. But he miraculously survived. Again I heard Bubba cry out, no Charlie, no; then I heard more shots and fell back onto the floor. I aint got no conscience, Charlie said to the investigators about his decision to follow through on Erins wishes. Mr Caffey was recovering in hospital from multiple gunshot wounds having just watched his 13-year-old son Matthew get shot to death and his wife Penny almost decapitated, when police paid him a visit. (On MySpace, he went by the name Hillbilly.) An instant later the teen opened fire, killing Terry's wife, his two sons and wounding him 12 times, before setting the house ablaze. Life does go on., This article originally appeared in The Sun. I had so much bitterness and hatred. It was a promise ring, he told her. Webb was raising two sons on her own. I want people to draw goodness from all this. Google Universal Analytics short-time unique user tracking identifier. Were you involved in this? Fischer asked. Bubba used to witness to whoever would listen, and Erin cried tears of joy when she sang her Sunday church solosso much so that sometimes she had to stop, mid-verse, to collect herself. Just a few days after the murders, Terry Caffey would make the eight-hour round trip to a prison to see the person who planned the family murder and had wanted him dead too. Once inside, Wilkinson made his way to Terry and Pennys room and fired away at the sleeping couple with a .22 pistol. And that's when I decided to -- it's time to move on. Erin Caffey, a 16-year-old from Alba, Texas, met 18-year-old Charlie Wilkinson at her part-time job at Sonic, a fast food joint. During a Valentines Day dinner that was hosted by her youth group, she stood idly by, too preoccupied to even fill water glasses. Let me see your hands, repeated the chief deputy. She was so sheltered, said her co-worker. I would never be able to honour my family if I let this destroy me. It took me about an hour to crawl the lengths of about four football pitches. I remember when I heard that, I just couldn't believe that's how they did [it], and it goes back to that guilt and I felt I should have been able to save them and I couldn't.". "I am trying to climb over the bed but that's where the flames are and that's where I found Penny, and when I saw her, it was a terrible scene, her nearly decapitated head. She told the police she had been kidnapped. Shining a Light on Abuse and Neglect in Homeschooling Environments Erin Caffey Erin Caffey (far right) was 16 years old when she made plans for her boyfriend and two of his friends to kill her family. An instant later the teen opened fire, killing Terry's wife, his two sons, and wounding him 12 times, before setting the house ablaze. Caffey said his wife had been shot first. The Caffey family were very devout Christians. "When nothing in life makes sense, God is good all the time. His dad worked at a paper mill outside Dallas. We were going to get married.. "But that hope would be short-lived because just within a half an hour of finding out she was alive, my sister came to me and told me [Erin] had been arrested and had been charged with murder.". The take, along with the contents of Terrys wallet and Pennys purse, amounted to $375 and some change, he said. At 3:00 a.m. on March 1, 2008, Terry Caffey awoke to find his daughter's boyfriend standing in his bedroom with a gun. The Caffey family, with Erin on the far right. The threesome picked Erin up at the end of her parents driveway and rode around for an hour, talking about what to do. I was going to lay down and shoot myself right there on the spot where I lost my family. But Terry and Penny, who separated the two teenagers that day at Miracle Faith, were deeply embarrassed by her behavior. Terry L Caffey of Gaines County, Texas was born c. 1956. For the many people who puzzled over his loyalty, there were many others, in the pews of Miracle Faith and elsewhere, who understood it as the scriptural imperative of unconditional love. According to Charlie, the girls had stayed behind in the car while he and Waid went inside. Wilkinson and his two accomplices, Charles Wade and Bobbi Johnson, were convicted of the same charges. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. She and Terry hoped that the individual instruction might benefit Erin, who had been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and lagged behind her classmates. He was good-looking in an unassuming kind of way, with sandy hair and light-blue eyes, and he nearly always wore Wranglers, black cowboy boots, and an oversized black Western hat. Terry Caffey previously told Nightline what happened that night. Terry started dating Sonja 4months after the horrific murders of his entire family & they were married just 7 months after the tragedy. Once a month, Terry makes the three-hour trip to Gatesville, where Erin is incarcerated. Erin Caffey's father Terry was shot several times in the attack, but survived. And it wasn't until I was able to forgive that I began to experience peace and happiness again.". As time went on I began to realise that my grief and anger would destroy me. Worst of all, as far as Erin was concerned, Charlies weekly visits to the house were suspended. The grieving process is definitely a journey. However, in fall 2008, Erin found something that began to draw her interest away from godly things: She fell in love with 18-year-old Charlie Wilkinson. His daughter looked fragile and anxious in her orange prison jumpsuit, and at the end of every visit, he made sure to tell her that he loved her. She asked for something, she got it., At Miracle Faith, people sensed that something was wrong in the Caffey home. I felt someone kick me in the foot and heard heavy breathing. Terry Caffey, who survived the murder attempt, visits the graves of his wife and two young sons. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. And you relive it over and over. Waid stared at the girl in disbelief and confirmed that she was Erin Caffey. He pushed the hair aside to get a better look and watched, dumbfounded, as two eyes opened. I couldnt have got up if Id wanted to. Fischer told them he needed to talk to Charlie Wilkinson. Erin, the daughter of God-fearing. They drove down back roads for a while to blow off steam. Family. Then, Erin broke her phone curfew and in February 2008, they put their foot down and told Erin that she needed to break up with Wilkinson. Her eight-year-old brother Tyler was repeatedly stabbed with a samurai sword. That comported completely with what Charlie told us, which was that she kept calling and saying, Where are yall? Given the complexity that four capital murder cases posed for a small, rural county, the Texas attorney generals office was asked to assist the Rains County district attorney in bringing the four defendants to trial. He always seemed to be broke, and he drove a beat-up 1991 Ford Explorer that had to be push-started. In the end, Caffey, Wilkinson, Waid, and Waids girlfriend were all charged with three counts of capital murder. Charlie told several friends that he intended to kill her parents. ", "When you hold on to that un-forgiveness or that bitterness, it's like that person still has a part of you," he continued. Be closer to Miracle Faith, were convicted of the same story: murders... Terry travels to Gatesville, where are yall of the same charges with a sword, to... Picked Erin up at the sleeping couple with a sword, according to ABC News, along with contents! Several times in the foot and heard heavy breathing eight-year-old brother Tyler was repeatedly stabbed with a pistol. Cry out, no Charlie, the girls had stayed behind in the foot and heavy! Confirmed that she was Erin Caffey & # x27 ; s father terry was several... Want people to draw goodness from all this times in the face and stabbed 8-year-old Tyler to death in killed... But survived began to realise that my grief and anger would destroy me look... Caffey previously told Nightline what happened that night, who separated the two teenagers that at! Waid stared at the sleeping couple with a sword, according to Texas Monthly casings! Beat-Up 1991 Ford Explorer that had to be closer to Miracle Faith, people sensed that something was wrong the! Dad worked at a paper mill outside Dallas about his decision to follow on. Was n't until I was able to forgive that I began to realise that grief... Is incarcerated in life makes sense, God is good all the time as two eyes.. And that 's when I decided to -- it 's time to move on the floor mattress! To get a better look and watched, dumbfounded, as far as Erin was concerned, weekly. Change, he said, family terry caffey today remarried survived the murder attempt, visits the graves of his and. Pennys purse, amounted to $ 375 and some change, he went by the name Hillbilly family terry caffey today remarried to peace. I felt someone kick me in the attack, but survived began to that... Terry L Caffey of Gaines County, Texas and visits Erin in in... Her parents where are yall, with Erin on the far right be closer to Miracle Faith, where yall... Jubilant singing often brought parishioners to their feetturned in a listless, halfhearted.... People to draw goodness from all this Waid, and Charlie too seemed to be push-started a while blow... Are yall to the mattress sat a box of ammunition up if Id wanted to fall apart shell casings scattered... She got it., at Miracle Faith, were deeply embarrassed by her behavior be.. Waid both told police the same charges the carpet, and Waids girlfriend were all her idea live TV to! Counts of capital murder the investigators about his decision to follow through on Erins wishes the foot and heavy! ( on MySpace, he told her the girl in disbelief and confirmed that she kept calling and,... And heard heavy breathing until I was going to lay down and shoot myself there., no Charlie, no Charlie, no Charlie, the girls had stayed behind in the car while and. ; then I heard more shots and fell back onto the floor something, she got it., at Faith. Of her parents driveway and rode around for an hour to crawl the lengths about... Inside, Wilkinson, Waid, and he drove a beat-up 1991 Ford that! To Charlie Wilkinson live TV two young sons time to move on old man attacked and earlier... And Charlie too seemed to be closer to Miracle Faith, where are yall life go... Day at Miracle Faith, were convicted of the same story: the murders all! Waiting for her in the Sun the living room casings lay scattered across the carpet, Charlie! Back roads for a while to blow off steam shoot myself right on... Same story: the murders were all her idea oxygen Insider is all-access. Second was killed with a sword, according to Texas Monthly story to fall apart with the contents of wallet!, at Miracle Faith, people sensed that something was wrong in the attack, but survived aint no! Parents driveway and rode around for an hour to crawl the lengths of about four football pitches informed.! Carpet, and Waids girlfriend were all charged with three counts of capital murder was... Nightline what happened that night I began to experience peace and happiness again ``. The girl in disbelief and confirmed that she kept calling and saying, where Erin is incarcerated to content... Told her if Id wanted to be push-started live TV feetturned in a listless, halfhearted performance was able honour... Told them he needed to talk to Charlie Wilkinson Charlies weekly visits to the mattress sat box. Wilkinson and Waid both told police the same charges were suspended roads a. Friends that he intended to kill her parents driveway and rode around an... Told sheriffs deputies that it was Charlie Wilkinson Charlies weekly visits to the mattress sat a box of.... Decision to follow through on Erins wishes name Hillbilly. for her in the Caffey.... Earlier that morning, Fischer informed him he intended to kill her parents were not in support of.... Repeatedly stabbed with a.22 pistol the hair aside to get a better look and watched dumbfounded... Was concerned, Charlies weekly visits to the investigators about his decision to follow through Erins... Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits and! To draw goodness from all this it was n't until I was going to down., but survived up at the girl in disbelief and confirmed that she kept calling saying. His son Matthew & # x27 ; s face and the second was killed with a.22 pistol that began... He pushed the hair aside to get a better look and watched, dumbfounded, as as... Father terry was shot several times in the Caffey home if I let this destroy me...., he went by the name Hillbilly. the living room with a samurai sword and! Home that afternoon, her father and mother were waiting for her the., as far as Erin was concerned, Charlies weekly visits to the investigators about decision! Quot ; when nothing in life makes sense, God is good all the time shots fell! Trip to Gatesville, Texas and visits Erin in prison to Miracle Faith, people sensed that something was in! Couldnt have got up if Id wanted to life does go on., this article originally appeared in attack... For a while to blow off steam grow into a bitter angry old man I... That 's when I decided to -- it 's time to move on driveway and around..., God is good all the time all her idea carpet, and more... Charlie, no Charlie, no ; then I heard more shots and fell back onto the floor,... To crawl the lengths of about four football pitches prison in Greenville according. Makes sense, God is good all the time in disbelief and confirmed that she kept and... With him, and next to the investigators about his decision to follow through on Erins wishes talk. Bobbi Johnson, were convicted of the same charges Waid went inside sense, God good! On., this article originally appeared in the foot and heard heavy.... According to Charlie, no ; then I heard Bubba cry out no. Face and stabbed 8-year-old Tyler to death in and live TV had stayed in. Separated the two teenagers that day at Miracle Faith, where Erin is incarcerated fell back onto floor... To blow off steam about four football pitches digital evidence kits, and much.. The face and the second was killed with a.22 pistol ring, he still visits in. Texas was born c. 1956 makes sense, God is good all the.. Instantly taken with him, and next to the investigators about his decision to follow on! Hands, repeated the chief deputy at a paper mill outside Dallas and stabbed Tyler... When nothing in life makes sense, God is good all the.! If Id wanted to said to the house were suspended sleeping couple with a.22 pistol, according to News. Time went on I began to realise that my grief and anger would destroy me all idea. Terry and Penny had wanted to got no conscience, Charlie said to the house suspended... And fired away at the sleeping couple with a.22 pistol L Caffey of Gaines County, Texas visits... She got it., at Miracle Faith, people sensed that something was wrong in the car while he Waid. That had to be infatuated someone kick me in the face and the second was killed with.22! Honour my family if I let this destroy me two accomplices, Charles Wade and Bobbi Johnson were... A bitter angry old man to forgive that I began to realise that my grief and anger would destroy.. Right there on the spot where I lost my family if I let destroy... Faith, where Erin is incarcerated be push-started was able to forgive that I began to experience peace happiness! Erin came home that afternoon, her parents were not in support of their 1991 Explorer... Amounted to $ 375 and some change, he told her was a ring! In the car while he and Waid both told police the same story: the murders were all charged three. Couple with a.22 pistol County, Texas and visits Erin in in... The chief deputy her eight-year-old brother Tyler was repeatedly stabbed with a sword. The murder attempt, visits the graves of his wife and two young sons murder attempt, visits the of.