Whitaker sentenced to life without parole

A judge sentenced a Laurens County man to spend the rest of his life in jail without the possibility of parole for the 2021 shooting death of his wife.

Ben Whitaker received his sentence from Dublin Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge Jon Helton late Wednesday morning, more than a month after a Morgan County jury found him guilty of one count of malice murder, one count of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault against his wife, Tiffani, on March 24.

The trial was moved to Morgan County after Whitaker’s first trial – held in September of 2025 – ended in a hung jury. The second trial began on March 17 with both sides presenting their cases before closing arguments on 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 in 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 and Amanda Palmer represented Whitaker, while Dublin Circuit District Attorney Harold McLendon and Chief Assistant DA Kelly Weathers prosecuted for the state.

On Wednesday, the third floor courtroom was packed with people, many of whom were wearing red – Tiffani’s favorite color. After hearing impact statements from Tiffani’s family and for Whitaker, Helton announced his decision.

“Often times people look at this side, or this side, as the winner or loser,” Helton said. “There are no winners here.” 

After delivering the sentence, Whitaker, dressed in an orange prison uniform, was escorted out of the courtroom by Laurens County sheriff’s deputies.

“Today, Tiffani’s family gained some closure to this case,” said Dublin Police Chief Keith Moon. “The family has had to endure two trials over the last year. There are no words that bring comfort, but I hope today’s sentencing brings some measure of peace. I pray that they will find strength in God’s grace and mercy. I want to thank the lead investigator, Detective Amber Beasley, the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, Dublin District Attorney’s Office and all of our law enforcement partners for their hard work.”

Family members and friends gave impact statements for Tiffani’s family. Her mother, Julie Scarborough, father, Dean Scarborough, and her son, Eli, were the final three to speak for Tiffani during the sentencing hearing.

“Tiffani is my momma,” Eli said. “I miss her so much every day.” 

He described a time after his mother’s death that he saw a sunset  “and I saw my momma in the clouds.” 

The 9-year-old asked Helton to put Whitaker in jail forever so that he would not be able to hurt his family or anyone else. 

Dean Scarborough looked at Whitaker and said, “I hope God forgives you. … Judge, you know what is right.”

While her husband was short with his remarks, Julie Scarborough had plenty to say to Whitaker. Tiffani’s mother spoke clearly, though she did cry some tears at times, showing a lot of emotion and raising her voice at different points of her victim statement.

During the trial, some of the evidence was a Dublin Police Department video of officers’ first interview of Whitaker after his arrest. During that interview, Whitaker told them that he shot his wife because she was nagging him about drinking alcohol.

“You thought it was her fault for nagging you,” Julie Scarborough said. “Give me a break. You are a coward. You do not want to accept your actions. We sat through two trials and looked at pictures of our baby mutilated by you. Your choice. You brutally murdered her. … You are a person without a soul.”

She said this act was committed on Tiffani “by someone who was supposed to love and protect her.”

“Your savage murder will never destroy the Scarborough family,” she added. “Her legacy will live on in her son – Eli.” 

Toward the end of her statement, she told Whitaker that he would “soon be a number in a prison system” while her daughter will be remembered because she impacted and changed lives.

“Your honor, we hope and pray you will judge Ben to the fullest extent of the law without the possibility of parole,” Julie said. “Ben had a jury. He didn’t allow that for Tiffani.” 

Warnock had a jail administrator at the LCSO testify that Whitaker, a nurse, had caused no disciplinary problems or issues in the jail. He then called Whitaker’s father, Lee.

“I apologize for everyone having to be here,” he said. “Ben is not an evil person. He had a lot of stress helping people during COVID. I could not believe what I was hearing when I was standing in the yard that day. We loved Tiffani like a daughter. We welcomed her and Eli into our family.” 

He ended his statement by asking for leniency.

McLendon began closing statements by reminding the judge that Whitaker was offered life with the possibility of parole by the previous DA administration. 

“Since I’ve taken office, we’ve had numerous cases and they have received life without the possibility of parole,” McLendon said. “None of those cases were on this level.” 

Palmer urged Helton to reflect on Whitaker as a gentle person who cares for other people.

“We are asking that you take all (of the good) he has done into account,” Palmer said. “The jury believes Ben could tell the difference between right from wrong (the day of the shooting). We respect that verdict.” 

Life with the possibility of parole meant that 30 years from now a parole board would decided if it should be granted, Palmer argued. 

“Not today,” she said.

Warnock said Ben would be eligible for parole when he is 63 years old.

“The good things Ben Whitaker did should count,” Warnock said. “Life without parole is for those who are unredeemable. That’s not what we have here.” 

After court was adjourned, the family met with members of the media in the jury deliberation room. Julie Scarborough noted it had been 1,765 days since the tragedy.

“We are very relieved that Ben got life without the possibility of parole. We don’t want anyone else to feel that. It doesn’t bring her back. But he will be held accountable.”

The family thanked McLendon’s office and members of the Dublin Police Department and Laurens County Sheriff’s Office.

“They all worked together to get justice for Tiffani,” Julie Scarborough said. “Throughout the process, they included us and kept us informed.” 

Her husband said the family had waited a long time for justice for their daughter.

“It has been trying,” he said, mentioning that it was stressful going through two trials. “We’ve had a lot of support and prayers.” 

Julie Scarborough agreed.

“We’ve been holding our breathes for five years. The judge was right that both families are affected and will be like that forever. We will live the rest of our lives without her. He will spend the rest of his life without his family.”