Charlie James Wilkinson

Charlie James Wilkinson, along with Charles Allen Waid, Bobbi Gale Johnson and Erin Caffey, has been charged with three counts of capital murder in connection to the shooting deaths of Penny Caffey and her two sons, Matthew and Tyler. He faces the death penalty. He is also implicated in the attempted murder of Terry Caffey. Wilkinson said they murdered the family because the parents would not allow Erin Caffey to date him. He allegedly attempted to dig his way out of jail with a spoon.

Fast Facts

1. Age: 19
2. Senior at Rains High School
3. Girlfriend: Erin Caffey
4. He and Caffey allegedly planned the murders for a month
5. Wilkinson and Caffey allegedly had sex after the murders
6. Wilkinson allegedly offered Charles Allen Waid $2,000 to help with the murder
7. Faces death penalty
8. Plea: Not guilty
9. Bond: $2 million
10. Allegedly tried to escape from jail

Crime Facts

1. Discovered about 4 am, March 1, 2008
2. Victims were shot and stabbed
3. House was set on fire
4. Victims: still alive as house burned
5. Family: Members of Miracle Faith Baptist Church
6. Dead:
   • Penny Caffey, 37, stabbed and shot
   • Matthew Caffey, 13, shot in the head
   • Tyler Caffey, 8, stabbed
7. Wounded: Terry Caffey
8. Arrested:
   • Erin Caffey
   • Charlie James Wilkinson, 19
   • Charles Allen Waid, 20
   • Bobbi Gale Johnson, 18
9. Johnson and Waid held on $1.5 million bond
10. Wilkinson held on $2 million bond

Crime Details

On the night of February 29, 2008, Terry Caffey allegedly said his daughter Erin Caffey was not allowed to date Charlie James Wilkinson. Wilkinson and Charles Allen Waid allegedly shot both parents as the parents lay in bed. Matthew and Tyler Caffey came down to investigate the noise, and Wilkinson told both children to go back to bed. Once the boys were back in their room, Waid and Wilkinson shot Matthew in the head and stabbed Tyler to death with a sword. After Wilkinson and Waid left, Terry Caffey, who had been shot in the head, crawled 300 yards to a neighbor's home for help. According to the autopsies, Penny, Matthew and Tyler were all alive when the house burned. Wilkinson and Erin Caffey celebrated the murders by having sex.

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