Erin Caffey

“After we left the scene, with the house on fire, we went back to Charlie's house and had sex”

Background:

• Born July 27th 1991• Rains County, Texas• 16 years old • Homeschooled• Starting dating a 19 year old boy named Charlie Wilkinson who she met working at

Sonic• Both mom and dad didn’t approve

-Leads to complications with family relationships• Was a vocalist and attended church before relationship- things changed- Myspace

page referenced to drinking and sexual activity• Homeschooled• Family- mom, dad, and two brothers• Started becoming rebellious-plotting things during class• Classmates over heard Erin and Charlie plotting• Never involved in any criminal activities until involved with Charlie…..

Crime Accused of Committing:Crime Date Victim(s) Punishment

HomicideCapital Murder

March 1, 2008 Mother-Penny Caffey, 27Brothers- Matthew, 13 and Tyler, 8

Pleaded Guilty.Sentenced to 2 consecutive life sentences + 25 years on January 2, 2009Not eligible for probation until she serves roughly 40 years

Def.: is any murder that makes the perpetrator eligible for the death penalty.

Def.: These kinds of sentences frequently arise in murder cases involving multiple victims.The purpose to lessen the chance of parole

Crime Committed (2008):

• Involved with the murdering of family -Wilkinson pulled up outside the Caffey house in the middle of the night. He had two friends with him -- Charles Allen Waid, 20, and Waid's 18-year-old girlfriend, Bobbi Gale Johnson. Erin Caffey ran out of the house in her pajamas to meet the group and then sat in the car while Wilkinson and Waid entered the house.

• Wilkinson and Waid stabbed and shot the family then burned the house down –Erin was behind the plot of all this

• All four defendants were initially charged with three counts of capital murder. Prosecutors had said they didn't plan to seek the death penalty against Erin Caffey

Def: the punishment of execution, administered to someone legally convicted

of a capital crime.

Evidence Brought Against Crime:• As part of boys plea deal to avoid the death penalty, they

had to tell the truth about Erin being the mastermind behind all this

• Lock Box was found w/ $2,000 found inside as part of a deal to kill the family

• Phone calls with Charlie were traced• Erin left behind a suitcase at Charlie’s house• In an interview with Charlie he stated that Erin had tried to

kill her family previously • Samurai sword was found as one of murder weapons

other than gun

Cultural References:

*Books: Terror By NightBy: Terry Caffey with James Pence

-Tells the compelling story of how Terry Caffey found peace after his wife and sons were brutally murdered and his teenage daughter implicated in the crime.

*TV Shows: Documentary- Final Witness – The Kids Aren’t Alright

-reveals the truth about what happened in the Caffey house that night and rocked the small East Texas town to its core.

*Songs: None

Sentence

• Sentenced to 2 consecutive life sentences + 25 years on January 2, 2009

• Not eligible for probation until she serves roughly 40 years– Serving time at Hilltop Unit Texas Department of

Corrections Gatesville,TX

Paragraph oneErin Caffey is an example of Differential Association Theory because her behavior is greatly determined by the company she keeps. Her mischievous plans and behaviors were learned when being involved with her new boyfriend, Charlie James Wilkinson. He was never the type to really make a great impression on her family and just had this weird “not caring at all” attitude. Erin also acquired a certain motive to kill her family due to her family not liking Charlie at all. She acquired criminal techniques, and certain attitudes appropriate for wanting to kill her family and be involved in this criminal behavior. Although her family surrounded her with much love and protection they were the “strict “and “overprotective” parents. She didn’t have much freedom in which caused her to keep to herself more often. Although the theory states that the person’s values and the values of the individuals who have the greatest influence over her strongly support criminal activities goes to show Erin found more support within her boyfriend than she did her family causing her to become the criminal she is.

Paragraph two

Erin was young when she, her boyfriend, and their friends committed the crime of killing her family. She was only 16 dating an older man who easily influenced her. Due to her being so young this impacted her maturity level and thought process on what was really being done. Her young age caused her to quickly learn deviant behavior. However, in Erin’s case I feel as if Social Control Theory would play a role within her life. I say this because society would say well the strong bonds for her would be being part of the middle class, being homeschooled then going to a public school, have a mom and dad, and two brothers, and she had a comfortable life. The bonds were weakened however new strong bonds started to form. Her new boyfriend became her strong bond, and plotting to kill her family because they were getting in the way of their relationship.