Guide Note

Penny Caffey and her two sons were killed at their home in Alba, Texas. Penny's husband, Terry Caffey, was wounded but survived. Erin Caffey, their 16 year old daughter, was one of the four people charged in connection with the murders. Terry asked that his daughter be released from police custody at a hearing on the case.

Fast 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

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.