Jury hears final arguments in Whitaker case

MADISON – A Morgan County jury heard final arguments and deliberations are expected to begin Tuesday morning in the case of a Laurens County man who is on trial for the June 2021 shooting death of his wife, Tiffani.

Ben Whitaker’s second trial was heard by a Morgan County Jury after his first trial in Laurens County ended in a mistrial last September. Laurens County Chief Judge Jon Helton was on the bench for both trials.

The re-trial began on Tuesday, March 17, a day after the jury was selected. The state and defense put up witnesses throughout the week, with final statements happening after lunch on Monday, March 23. 

On June 30, 2021, law enforcement responded to a house at 212  Penn Street after Tiffani’s colleagues at Dublin Ob/gyn did not show up for work. During the welfare check, officers from the Dublin Police Department saw Tiffani on the floor in the kitchen. Whitaker was not at the scene at that time.

Around 2:15 p.m. that day, Whitaker’s truck was located in Wilkinson County. He was later arrested without incident.

Mitch Warnock represented Whitaker while Dublin District Attorney Harold McLendon and Chief assistant DA Kelly Weathers prosecuted for the state.

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