On August 7, 2009, Eric Leigh Whitehead, then 14, fatally shot his 22-year-old stepsister, Patricia Leigh Troglen, 10 times in the head while she was asleep on the couch. Whitehead claimed he had a dream in which he and his stepsister were arguing, which led him to wake up enraged and commit the crime. Whitehead was charged as an adult and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Whitehead had a history of psychiatric problems and had undergone two mental examinations, both of which found him competent to stand trial. He was temporarily staying with his stepfather at the time of the shooting.
… teenage hormones and peer pressures led to all that went wrong.
Eric Whitehead. “God Bless You” on reverse. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Atlanta, GA. August 23, 2024. Content unknown. SEALED.
Eric Leigh Whitehead’s case is a tragic and complex one, involving the murder of his stepsister, Patricia Leigh Troglen, when he was just 14 years old. Here is a detailed report on the case:
Incident Overview: On August 7, 2009, in Richmond County, Georgia, Eric Whitehead fatally shot his 22-year-old stepsister, Patricia Leigh Troglen, while she was asleep on the couch. Whitehead used a .22 caliber rifle belonging to his stepfather and shot Troglen ten times in the head.
Circumstances Leading to the Crime: Whitehead claimed that he had a dream in which he and Troglen were arguing. Upon waking up, he was reportedly enraged and decided to act on the emotions from his dream. He retrieved the rifle and shot Troglen while she was napping.
Legal Proceedings: Whitehead was charged as an adult due to the severity of the crime. He pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. During the trial, it was revealed that Whitehead had a history of psychiatric issues and had undergone two mental examinations, both of which found him competent to stand trial.
Background and Personal History: Whitehead had a troubled background, including a tendency to run away and get into trouble. At the time of the shooting, he was temporarily staying with his stepfather. Despite the tragic outcome, Whitehead reportedly considered Troglen to be his best friend.
Psychological and Social Factors: Investigators noted that Whitehead had a history of psychiatric problems, which may have contributed to his actions. His biological father suggested that teenage hormones and peer pressure played a role in the incident.
Current Status: As of the latest updates, Eric Whitehead is incarcerated at the Georgia State Prison. He will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years of his life sentence.
Patricia “Trish” Leigh Troglen, born on April 10, 1987, in Calhoun County, Michigan, passed away on August 7, 2009, at the age of 22. She was the daughter of Charles Troglen and Lisa Redder and had several siblings. Patricia graduated with honors from Hudsonville High School in 2005 and enjoyed singing, drawing, swimming, and hunting. Tragically, she was fatally shot by her 14-year-old stepbrother, Eric Leigh Whitehead, while she was asleep at her home in Richmond County, Georgia. Patricia was cremated and her ashes were given to her family. Memorial services were held on August 12, 2009, in Hephzibah, Georgia.
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