Bio

Douglas Whitton was born in 1960 in Canton, Texas. Not much is known about his early childhood. Growing up, he faced challenges related to alcohol. As a young adult, he struggled with alcoholism, which affected his life in various ways. He attempted to overcome his addiction by entering a substance-abuse treatment center.

After leaving the treatment center, Whitton met a family at a church. They offered him a place to stay and welcomed him into their home. This family was unaware of Whitton's struggles and past. They believed he was trying to turn his life around.

At some point, Whitton began working as a professional wrestler. He moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he lived with several housemates. While living there, he continued to grapple with his addiction to alcohol.

His time in New Orleans was marked by a series of events that would change many lives. These events ultimately resulted in his arrest a day after the discovery of four victims in his home.

Douglas Whitton's early life was shaped by personal struggles and the choices he made. These challenges would later play a role in the events that unfolded in October 1997.

Murder Story

On October 16, 1997, Douglas Whitton committed a series of murders in a home located in New Orleans, Louisiana. He killed four people, including a nine-year-old boy. The victims were identified as Gail Coulon, Owen Reeves, Joseph Donovan, and Joey Whitehead.

After a period of living with them, Whitton became violent when asked to leave the home. Reports indicate he used a combination of blunt force and stabbing as his methods. The crime scene was chaotic, with signs of struggle evident throughout the home.

Whitton did not immediately flee from the scene. He remained in the house for several days after the murders, showing little regard for the deceased individuals. His time in the home ended when he eventually left, spending nights at local motels and engaging in daily activities like going to the movies.

Law enforcement initiated a search after concerned friends and coworkers reported the absence of the victims. A series of investigations led to the discovery of the bodies, resulting in a swift arrest of Whitton.

Whitton was apprehended on October 18, 1997, just days after the murders had taken place. Following his arrest, he confessed to the killings, stating he guessed he had committed the murders because he woke up to find all the victims dead.

His trial began in 1999. The jury found him guilty of four counts of first-degree murder. On February 26, 1999, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.