Transcript

Teen Girl Orchestrates The Unthinkable | Erin Caffey

From Annie Elise · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 55 min · 9,924 words · 92 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Teen Girl Orchestrates The Unthinkable | Erin Caffey", an episode of Annie Elise published January 13, 2026 (55 min, about 9,924 words). It mentions 37 people, works and ideas, including Murder, Terry Caffy, Charlie Wilkinson, Aaron Caffy, forgiveness.

What this episode is about

In March 2008, the Caffey family in Alba, Texas, was brutally attacked, resulting in the deaths of mother Penny and two young sons, while father Terry survived despite multiple gunshot wounds. Investigations revealed that the orchestrator of this horrific crime was 15-year-old Erin Caffey, driven by a secret relationship and a plot fueled by obsession and manipulation, ultimately shattering her family from within.

Key takeaways

  • In a plot twist more twisted than fiction, family loyalty was the true criminal mastermind behind this tragedy.
  • Terry Caffy's survival story is a testament to human resilience, crawling 500 yards to safety despite overwhelming odds.
  • Small-town dynamics can hide dark secrets; even the closest families can harbor deadly obsessions beneath their quaint exteriors.
  • The Caffy family's idyllic life masked a horror; obsession and manipulation tore apart bonds once thought unbreakable.
  • What’s scarier than a home invasion? The realization that the most dangerous threats often come from within the family.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: Terry Caffy, Aaron Caffy, Murder, Alba, Texas
  2. – 10:00: Miracle Faith Baptist Church, Penny Caffy, Alba, Texas, Sonic
  3. – 15:00: Charlie Wilkinson, love, MySpace, soulmate
  4. – 20:00: relationship, Rebecca McGahi, Charlie Wilkinson, abuse
  5. – 25:00: Shana Sanders, Aaron Caffy, Charlie Wilkinson, Matthew Caffy
  6. – 30:00: Murder, Terry Caffy, Bobby Johnson, Virginia Daily
  7. – 35:00: Murder, Aaron Caffy, Charlie Wilkinson, Tyler Caffy
  8. – 40:00: capital murder, Murder, Lisa Tanner, Terry Caffy
  9. – 45:00: forgiveness, Charlie Wilkinson, Murder, capital murder
  10. – 50:00: Jordan Rener, Psychopathy
  11. – 55:00: relationship, forgiveness, Annie Eliss, love

Notable quotes from "Teen Girl Orchestrates The Unthinkable | Erin Caffey"

  • In the early morning hours of March 1st, 2008, a quiet home in Alba, Texas, became the scene of an unthinkable crime. Just after 3:00 a.m., multiple gunshots were fired inside the Cathy.
    about Murder · at
  • Turn. Because the people responsible for this, they weren't strangers. And the plan, it didn't start that night. At the center of it all was 15-year-old Aaron Caffy, the…
    about Aaron Caffy · at
  • The town has a population of around 500 people. It's located in East Texas, about 45 miles northwest of Tyler. The Cathy family was a close, tight-knit family. Penny Caffy, the mother,.
    about Alba, Texas · at
  • She's blondhaired and was widely known for her gorgeous singing voice, which showcased in Gospel Solos at the Miracle Faith Baptist Church on Sundays.
    about Miracle Faith Baptist Church · at
  • I heard my son Matthew cry out. He said, Charlie, Charlie, why are you doing this? No, Charlie, no. Please, why are you doing this? And then I'm trying to get up and all of a sudden, bam, bam, I heard the gunshots. I realized Matthew's.
    about Matthew Caffy · at
  • Explaining his willingness to fulfill Aaron's request, he told law enforcement, I don't have a conscience.
    about Charlie Wilkinson · at
  • That his own daughter was involved, Terry still made the miraculous decision to move forward with forgiveness.
    about forgiveness · at
  • Particularly in the miracle faith Baptist community, viewed it as a manifestation of unconditional love as told by scripture. Terry particularly found comfort in a verse from…
    about love · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Terry Caffy — Person · Survivor / key witness / forgiveness exemplar · 5 mentions · first at
    Husband/father who survived being shot and the house fire, identified Charlie, and later advocated forgiveness and opposed the death penalty. His relationship with Aaron after the crime anchors the episode’s moral themes.
    Caffy and her two youngest sons, Matthew and Tyler, were dead. Penny's husband, Terry Caffy, had also been shot five times, and he had just been left inside this burning home.…
  • Charlie Wilkinson — Person · Perpetrator / Aaron's boyfriend · 5 mentions · first at
    Aaron’s boyfriend who carried out the shootings and coordinated with accomplices; his confession and motive (revenge/obsession) are central to the case narrative.
  • Aaron Caffy — Person · Central subject / accused mastermind · 4 mentions · first at
    Teen daughter who survived and was later arrested/convicted for conspiring in the murders of her mother and brothers. Her motives, manipulation, and shifting stories are a core focus of the episode.
  • Penny Caffy — Person · Victim (mother) · 2 mentions · first at
    Mother killed in the attack; her strict parenting, church role, and relationship conflict with Aaron provide context for motive and family dynamics.
    Gunshots were fired inside the Cathy family home. And when the smoke cleared and the fire was extinguished, Penny Caffy and her two youngest sons, Matthew and Tyler, were dead.…
  • Annie Eliss — Person · Host / narrator · 2 mentions · first at
    Introduces the episode and narrates the case reconstruction and commentary.
    This is tend to life and today we are reopening the case of Aaron Cathy.
  • Matthew Caffy — Person · Victim (son) · 2 mentions · first at
    One of the two younger brothers killed; his death is described in detail and underscores the brutality and scope of the crime.
  • Lisa Tanner — Person · Prosecutor (Assistant Attorney General) · 2 mentions · first at
    Led/assisted prosecution strategy, emphasized phone records, and advocated adult certification; provides legal framing of Aaron as mastermind.
    I'll keep the dog quiet. Get back over here. Showing that she was the driving force behind this. In June, Lisa Tanner met with Terry Cathy and presented him with the phone…
  • Tyler Caffy — Person · Victim (son) · 1 mention · first at
    Youngest brother killed; his stabbing is recounted as a pivotal, emotionally charged detail in the confession narrative.
    Young boy and became emotional as he described WDE's actions to the detectives. He stated that he watched as Wade repeatedly stabbed Tyler until he no longer moved. Through…
  • Bobby Johnson — Person · Accomplice / driver · 3 mentions · first at
    Drove the group in her Dodge Neon and later pled guilty as an accomplice; her involvement connects logistics and accountability beyond the shooters.
    Home as payment for assisting in the murder of the Caffy family. According to Charlie, Bobby Johnson, who was Charles Wade's girlfriend, accompanied them in her silver Dodge…
  • Shana Sanders — Person · School district police chief / interviewer · 2 mentions · first at
    Interviewed Aaron in the hospital as a potential victim; later redirected to arrest Aaron after implication.
    Interview. Aaron was considered a potential victim who may have been kidnapped after these murders. So with a gentle demeanor, Shana questioned Aaron about what she remembered. Aaron spoke hesitantly and softly, giving limited information.
  • Charles Dickerson — Person · First responding officer (referenced) · 2 mentions · first at
    First officer on duty who responded to the call and initiated the early response and dispatch of fire services.
    Dead. The only survivors were 16-year-old Aaron Caffy and her father, Terry Caffy. Charles Dickerson was the only officer on duty in this small town on March 1st, 2008 when a…
  • Tommy Gaslin — Person · Neighbor / 911 caller · 2 mentions · first at
    Neighbor who called 911 and whose home Terry reached after crawling for help; key to emergency response timeline.
    This is Tommy Gaslin. I've got a man that's been shot out here at my house.
  • Virginia Daily — Person · Grandmother / family witness · 2 mentions · first at
    Maternal grandmother present during aftermath and arrest moment; her reaction illustrates family shock and denial.
    There was anything else that she wanted to add, Aaron whispered, They're coming after me. Virginia Daily, Aaron's maternal grandmother, had come to tell her that her father had somehow lived through this extremely brutal attack.
  • Jordan Rener — Person · Prison counselor / commentator · 2 mentions · first at
    Describes being manipulated by Aaron and labels her a psychopath; adds psychological interpretation and modern commentary.
    He knows I'm innocent. And Israel isn't the only professional who felt duped by Aaron's lies. Jordan Rener, a counselor in the Texas prison system, also recently shared her…
  • Rebecca McGahi — Person · Pastor's wife / community observer · 2 mentions · first at
    Noted changes in Aaron’s demeanor and framed it spiritually, supporting the narrative that something was 'off' before the murders.
    Somebody singing and moved to tears by her faith, she was now detached. Then at her grandfather's funeral, the pastor's wife, Rebecca McGahi, noticed a change in Aaron's…

Books & papers

  • Joshua 24:15 — Book · Family faith marker · 1 mention · first at
    Displayed at the family driveway as a symbol of the Caffys’ religious identity and household values.
    Polished cedar plank hung above their driveway bearing the inscription the cafes Joshua 24:15.
  • Romans 11 — Book · Scriptural support for forgiveness · 1 mention · first at
    Cited as a verse guiding Terry’s stance on blessing persecutors and opposing the death penalty.
    Manifestation of unconditional love as told by scripture. Terry particularly found comfort in a verse from the book of Romans 11, which stated, Bless those who persecute you.…

Companies & orgs

  • Miracle Faith Baptist Church — Company · Community institution / motive context · 3 mentions · first at
    Central to the family’s identity and social world; provides context for strict upbringing, community observations, and Terry’s forgiveness framing.
  • Reigns County Sheriff's Office — Company · Investigating law enforcement agency · 1 mention · first at
    Received the initial call, coordinated response and interrogations, and worked with other agencies on the investigation.
    Holy [ __ ] that was awful. As the suspects were being interrogated at the Emory Sheriff's Office, Aaron's grandparents were in route to that hospital in Tyler with Chief Sanders and.
  • Sonic — Company · Workplace / meeting point · 1 mention · first at
    Where Aaron worked and met Charlie; provides social access outside her strict home/church environment.
    How sweet. [singing] When she wasn't singing or working on her schoolwork, she was car hopping at the Sonic in town. Aaron had two brothers. Matthew, known as Bubba, was in the…
  • Texas National Guard — Company · Military affiliation (Charlie) · 2 mentions · first at
    Referenced as Charlie’s unit; used in his self-description about conscience and willingness to carry out tasks.
    I joined the army to carry out any task without question. According to Charlie, he and Wade entered the cafe home through the front door, which was left unlocked by Aaron while she and Bobby.
  • East Texas Medical Center — Company · Medical facility (ICU visit) · 1 mention · first at
    Where Terry was taken/visited in ICU; part of the immediate aftermath timeline.
    Until she was discharged from the hospital, then offered to take her and her grandparents to the ICU at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler to see her father. All the while just…

Concepts & topics

  • forgiveness — Concept · Core theme / moral lens · 4 mentions · first at
    Terry’s decision to forgive the perpetrators and oppose the death penalty is presented as a central takeaway and spiritual framework.
  • capital murder — Concept · Legal charge / sentencing framework · 5 mentions · first at
    Defines the prosecution strategy and sentencing outcomes for Aaron, Charlie, and Wade; explains adult certification and parole implications.
    Aaron was transferred to the juvenile detention center in Greenville where she was placed under arrest on charges of capital murder.
  • relationship — Concept · Causal driver (romantic/family dynamics) · 7 mentions · first at
    The secret/forbidden teen relationship is framed as the catalyst for the plot; family relationships also shape aftermath and forgiveness.
    Plan, it didn't start that night. At the center of it all was 15-year-old Aaron Caffy, the couple's daughter, and a very secret relationship that her parents had desperately…
  • love — Concept · Motivational frame / theme · 3 mentions · first at
    Used to describe teen obsession and Terry’s unconditional love; contrasts destructive “love” with restorative love/forgiveness.
  • abuse — Concept · Disputed motive factor · 1 mention · first at
    Raised as a possible explanation (Aaron claimed being hit), but later denied and not supported by evaluation; important to motive analysis.
    Aaron and her mother was increasing. And at one point, Aaron called Charlie in tears, telling him that Penny had hit her during one of their heated arguments. In February…
  • Psychopathy — Concept · Characterization / psychological framing · 3 mentions · first at
    Used by a prison counselor to describe Aaron and explain perceived manipulation and lack of remorse; influences audience interpretation.
    And what I didn't know is that she is a psychopath. And she was getting sick pleasure out of toying with me, watching my emotional responses, and just seeing what she could get away with. And I was.
  • MySpace — Concept · Evidence / social context · 2 mentions · first at
    Charlie’s MySpace profile content influenced the parents’ decision to force a breakup, which is framed as a trigger for escalation.
    Library and followed her sister's advice to view Charlie's MySpace profile, which contained statements about having sex, getting drunk, being promiscuous, and just being, a…
  • soulmate — Concept · Romantic belief driver · 2 mentions · first at
    Describes Charlie’s intense attachment to Aaron and the teen obsession narrative that precedes the crime.
    Dion Kip Jr., a friend of Charlie's, he was completely head over heels for Aaron and believed that she was his soulmate.
  • ADD — Concept · Personal background detail · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as part of Aaron’s school struggles and vulnerability narrative.
    Were enrolled in their new schools, she was in 8th grade and now attending Reigns Junior High. Aaron was recently diagnosed with ADD and lagged behind her classmates. A girl…

Places & events

  • Murder — Event · Primary event (Caffy family murders) · 9 mentions · first at
    The episode reconstructs the March 1, 2008 killings and arson at the Caffy home; although the transcript uses 'murders' rather than naming an event title, this is the central event discussed.
  • Alba, Texas — Place · Primary setting · 3 mentions · first at
    Small East Texas town where the murders occurred; its size and community context shape the investigation and impact.
  • Wills Point — Place · Terry's post-tragedy residence · 1 mention · first at
    Where Terry moved after sentencing, near the cemetery; indicates aftermath and grief geography.
    Become eligible for parole when she reaches the age of 59. After the sentencing, Terry moved into a little brick house in Wills Point, which is located approximately 30 mi…
  • Gatesville — Place · Incarceration location (Aaron) · 1 mention · first at
    Where Terry visited Aaron while she was incarcerated, illustrating long-term aftermath.
    Terry's twice weekly visits turned into once a month as he drove three hours to visit Aaron while she was incarcerated in Gatesville. He stated that he just wanted to make sure…
  • Fort Sill — Place · Military training location · 1 mention · first at
    Referenced as where Charlie returned from boot camp, situating his background and identity.
    Charlie encountered Aaron at the Sonic restaurant. He had just come back from boot camp at Fort Sil, Oklahoma with his Texas National Guard unit. Charlie resided in the rural…
  • Del Rio — Place · Regional reference · 1 mention · first at
    Referenced as where Charlie’s mother relocated after divorce; part of his family background.
    Employed at a paper mill located outside of Dallas. Charlie's mother, on the other hand, had relocated to Del Rio after the divorce from his father, and he only saw her once or twice a year.

Full transcript with timestamps

In the early morning hours of March 1st, 2008, a quiet home in Alba, Texas, became the scene of an unthinkable crime. Just after 3:00 a.m., multiple gunshots were fired inside the Cathy family home. And when the smoke cleared and the fire was extinguished, Penny Caffy and her two youngest sons, Matthew and Tyler, were dead. Penny's husband, Terry Caffy, had also been shot five times, and he had just been left inside this burning home. Yet somehow, he survived. Now, at first, it looked like this violent home invasion gone horribly wrong. The house had been set on fire.

This attack was very quick. It was brutal. It was targeted. But as the investigators began digging into the timeline and the people closest to the family, the case took a very disturbing turn. Because the people responsible for this, they weren't strangers. And the plan, it didn't start that night. At the center of it all was 15-year-old Aaron Caffy, the couple's daughter, and a very secret relationship that her parents had desperately tried to stop. And what unfolded next? It would reveal a plot that was driven by obsession, manipulation, and a decision that permanently destroyed a family from the inside out. Hey guys, I'm Annie Eliss.

This is tend to life and today we are reopening the case of Aaron Cathy. On March 1st, 2008, two men broke into a home in Alba, Texas with a mission to execute a horrific killing spree that left two young children and their mother dead. The only survivors were 16-year-old Aaron Caffy and her father, Terry Caffy. Charles Dickerson was the only officer on duty in this small town on March 1st, 2008 when a call came in to the Reigns County Sheriff's Office just after 4:30 a.m.

911. What's the address of your emergency? This is Tommy Gaslin. I've got a man that's been shot out here at my house.

Okay. So, he's been shot. Yes. All right, sir. I have a few questions that I need to ask you. Okay. We're going to get you an ambulance. I need you to stay on the line with me. Okay. Are you with the patient now?

Yes. 51. How old is he? He's uh 41. Is he conscious? Yes. And is he breathing? Yes.

Okay. When did this happen? I don't know. Just a little bit ago. And we've also got a house on fire out here.

And the house is on fire. The caller stated that there had been a shooting at the Cathy residence. Officer Dickerson quickly headed along US 69 and turned down the road that led through the woods to the cafy's property. He spotted an orange glow in the distance, and as he drove nearer, he could see that the house was engulfed in flames. The house appeared to have been burning for quite some time. Officer Dickerson radioed to the dispatcher to send out the county's volunteer fire department. He then sped down the road to the closest neighbor's house, Tommy Gaston, where that 911 call originated from. And as he arrived, Tommy looked relieved.

Just sprawled across his living room floor, lies Terry Caffy, shot five times. Once in the head, twice near the right shoulder, and two more times in the back. He was covered in blood, wearing a shirt, pajama pants, no shoes, and a single wet sock. Terry had miraculously crawled for over an hour 500 yard from his home to his neighbor's home, seeking help. During his journey though, he fell into a creek where he almost drowned. But he was resilient and he decided to keep going. He needed to get to safety. When Terry was finally well enough to speak, the story that he told about what had happened to him, his wife Penny, and their kids, Aaron, Matthew, and Tyler, it was absolutely devastating.

And um I realized quickly somebody's somebody standing over shooting us, but everything was happening. so quickly. Me and Penny both were just screaming. But I could hear somebody standing over me reloading the gun and I'm laying face down on the floor and I just knew any minute this is going to be it. They're going to finish me off. I remember saying, "God, just please be with my family and make it quick." I just saw the blast muzzle um and this the smell of gun gunpowder. It was so loud. I remember that just totally engulfed. I mean, it was just I can remember hearing windows explode out. It was just intense heat and smoke and I I couldn't get upstairs to the kids and I was forced back into the bedroom and I I knew I was trying to get to the bathroom on the other side. So, I climbed over the bed trying to get away from the smoke and the flames. And when I fell on the other side of the bed,

that's when I found Penny. And one look at her, I knew she's already gone. So, I climbed out the bathroom window. I didn't care if I lived or died. As a matter of fact, I wanted to die, but I knew that if I died out there in them woods that there's a good chance they may never find out who did this.

You heard Terry say that his biggest fear was the police never finding out who committed this horrific crime against his family. But the truth about the identity of the killers, it would turn out to be just as devastating as the crime itself. Now, to understand why, we really need to understand who the Caffies were as people. The Cathy family was a very well-loved family in their small little town of Alba, Texas. The town has a population of around 500 people. It's located in East Texas, about 45 miles northwest of Tyler. The Cathy family was a close, tight-knit family. Penny Caffy, the mother, homeschooled her three children, Aaron, Matthew, and Tyler. They lived on a beautiful piece of land that was encapsulated with tall trees and brush alongside. In the middle of their land, deep in the woods, sat a modest cabin along a one-lane gravel road. Penny played the piano at Miracle Faith Baptist Church, and her husband Terry

was a home health aid and a lay preacher, which is a preacher who is not formally ordained and does not hold a formal university degree in theology. Their oldest daughter, Aaron, was 16 at the time of this horrific incident. She's blondhaired and was widely known for her gorgeous singing voice, which showcased in Gospel Solos at the Miracle Faith Baptist Church on Sundays.

Amazing [singing] grace, how sweet. [singing] When she wasn't singing or working on her schoolwork, she was car hopping at the Sonic in town. Aaron had two brothers. Matthew, known as Bubba, was in the seventh grade, and Tyler was in the fourth grade. All of the children were shy, but very well-mannered. But Aaron was the least reserved of the three. Faith was the cornerstone of the Cathy's lives. They attended Bible study on Wednesday nights and church every single Sunday and set aside several hours each week to rehearse different gospel songs. Terry and Penny first crossed paths at a revival meeting in Garland, Texas when she was just 21 years old and he was 24 years old. Their shared strong Baptist faith was a unifying force throughout their lives. A polished cedar plank hung above their driveway bearing the inscription the cafes Joshua 24:15.

This verse, which Terry had memorized, served as a constant reminder of their decision to follow a path of righteousness, and their children shared this passion of faith. Aaron was often so overwhelmed with emotion while singing her Sunday church solos that she would break down in tears, leading her to pause in the middle of a verse to compose herself. Now, Aaron was a very cute girl. She was petite and thrived on attention. Boys would often go to the church just to see her. At her job, she was the only employee who would deliver the orders while wearing the roller skates at Sonic. Boys would gravitate towards Aaron, while others saw her as hopelessly naive. One of Aaron's co-workers stated that a lot of guys flirted with Aaron, and she would just smile and blush. But her parents, Terry and Penny, were very protective of their children, even pulling her out of public school due to an incident that had

happened. When Aaron was 13, they had moved to Alba from another town to be closer to Miracle Faith Baptist, where they both served as the church's youth ministers. When Aaron and her brothers were enrolled in their new schools, she was in 8th grade and now attending Reigns Junior High. Aaron was recently diagnosed with ADD and lagged behind her classmates. A girl had begun to show interest in Aaron and had actually kissed her in the hallway. So, the Caffies upon hearing this news abruptly pulled all of their children out of school, and their mother, Penny, began to teach them a Bible-based curriculum at home.

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That's $30 off your first box and free croissants for life at wildgrain.com/life30 promo code life3030. Aaron, who was a pretty social girl, was now isolated, either being at home or Miracle Faith Baptist. Those were her only two places to essentially go aside from work. In July of 2007, when Aaron turned 16, she obtained her driver's license and a used Chevy pickup truck. Then she began working at that local Sonic. Her coworker described her as being quite sheltered and experiencing the world as though it was the very first time ever being outside. And Aaron's job, it wasn't just a place for her to earn a couple extra bucks and have a little bit of a side hobby. It was also where she met one of her first serious boyfriends, a boy named Charlie.

Well, Charlie Wilkinson was your average East Texas boy. He had sandy blonde hair, light blue eyes, and wore his signature attire of Wrangler jeans, black cowboy boots, and a large black western hat. And on MySpace, he even went by the name Hillbilly. A few weeks prior to the start of his senior year, Charlie encountered Aaron at the Sonic restaurant. He had just come back from boot camp at Fort Sil, Oklahoma with his Texas National Guard unit. Charlie resided in the rural area with his father, stepmother, a stepbrother, stepsister, and halfsister. His dad was employed at a paper mill located outside of Dallas. Charlie's mother, on the other hand, had relocated to Del Rio after the divorce from his father, and he only saw her once or twice a year.

Charlie had a passion for hunting, and he spent a lot of time fishing and pursuing wild hogs in the brush. Similar to most of his friends, he was very skilled with firearms. After graduation, he intended to enlist for active duty. He had never faced any legal trouble and did not have a history of any major disciplinary issues at school. However, he was quick-tempered and others were aware that it was very easy to get him fired up. Although Charlie was prone to impulsiveness, he generally managed to avoid physical confrontations by simply walking away from them. So, during the fall, Charlie frequently visited that Sonic to see Aaron. A few weeks after Halloween, he summoned the courage to ask her out on a date, and she was immediately drawn to him, and Charlie appeared equally smitten. According to Dion Kip Jr., a friend of Charlie's, he was completely head over heels for Aaron and believed that she was his soulmate.

Aaron's parents, however, were not the biggest fan of Charlie. Then one day at church during one of the fellowship meetings, one of the adults had actually walked up on Aaron and Charlie Wilkerson, making out behind the church. So Terry and Penny were deeply ashamed of Aaron's actions and separated the two teenagers during all gatherings that continued to go forward at Miracle Faith Church. She did not want Aaron anywhere near Charlie. But despite the Cathy's strict restrictions on their alone time together and not allowing them to leave the house alone, the two teenagers still managed to spend a considerable amount of time together. Charlie was over at Aaron's house often. They would eat dinner together and then go out back and build bonfires with her brothers. But like clockwork, when 9:00 p.m. came around, the Caffies made sure that Charlie was already heading out the door. Then Aaron would immediately call

Charlie, get on the phone, and talk to him until her parents made her hang up around 10 p.m. December. Aaron begged her parents to go back to public school. Her brothers had already returned to public school earlier in the fall after Bubba, who was 13, expressed how much he missed his friends. So the cafes were willing to comply with Aaron's request and allowed her to go back to school before the holiday season so that Penny could have more time to earn additional income. So Aaron enrolled as a freshman and she and Charlie were now constantly together. They ate lunch and walked side by side through the halls and occasionally they would sneak away to Aaron's truck to mess around a little bit. Classic teenagers who are just enthralled and obsessed with each other and feeling like they are absolutely in love. The caffy's rules became a little bit more lenient, and Terry had decided to allow Aaron and Charlie to go out to

dinner every now and then with the promise that they would return no later than 9:30 p.m. However, they would often just go to a friend's house where they could be alone together. And after Christmas, they had sex for the first time. One night, Charlie stopped his car on a countryback road and got down on one knee. He presented Aaron with his grandmother's engagement ring, which he referred to as a promise ring. It wasn't a formal proposal, but it was his way of expressing his commitment to Aaron. But a few days later, Penny noticed the ring on Aaron's finger and ordered her to give it back. And Terry was becoming increasingly uneasy with the speed of the relationship between Charlie and Aaron. So after that, the Caffies were seeing red flags and they restricted Aaron and Charlie's time together to once a week and always under their supervision, which Aaron was very angry with her parents for this and confided

in her aunt that she had intentions of actually leaving with Charlie as soon as she turned 17. So the tension between Aaron and her mother was increasing. And at one point, Aaron called Charlie in tears, telling him that Penny had hit her during one of their heated arguments. In February, Penny caught Aaron talking on the phone after her curfew to Charlie. This resulted in Aaron being grounded and having her car keys and phone taken away. For several weeks, her parents had to drive her to and from school. And worst of all, from Aaron's perspective, her weekly visits with Charlie were now completely suspended. So, all of this is starting to escalate and starting to reach a boiling point. Aaron feels that her parents are completely taking her away from Charlie, the love of her life, her soulmate, the person she is destined to be with. And they just keep getting in the way. They keep pulling us away from

each other. I can't see you as much. I can't talk to you as much. They don't want us to be together. They don't know our love. They don't understand our love. So, as this continues to escalate, Aaron persistently began to discuss the idea of killing her parents with Charlie, stating that it was their only solution to being together. Her talk about it was frequent both in school and outside of school with a fellow classmate overhearing her mention the plan during a lunch period in midFebruary. Charlie, who had just turned 18 that month, was determined to be with Aaron and was willing to do anything to make her happy. His father used to tease him by saying he had lost puppy dog syndrome, meaning that he was always trying to help those in need.

Aaron was someone he wanted to save and someone he loved. And Charlie even confided in several of his friends his plans to kill Aaron's parents. Just two days before the killings, Charlie confided in a friend that he wished he could impregnate Aaron as a way of forcing her parents to just accept him. Despite this, Aaron remained resolute in her belief that they needed to get rid of her parents. They were the obstacle from their happily ever after. She argued that having a baby at such a young age was just not an option for her. she didn't want to be a mom yet and that as long as her parents were alive, she and Charlie could not be together.

At Miracle Faith Church, even the members began to pick up that something was not right within the Cathy household. Penny became distant and reserved for the majority of February and declined an invitation to attend a women's church retreat, something that she would never usually turn down, and she stated that she wanted to spend more time with her family. Aaron appeared detached and inattentive during any church event as well. Where she once was somebody singing and moved to tears by her faith, she was now detached. Then at her grandfather's funeral, the pastor's wife, Rebecca McGahi, noticed a change in Aaron's demeanor. He had died of a heart attack that month, and the Cathy family all performed Amazing Grace in his honor. But Aaron's singing was lackluster and lacked her usual passion.

This concerned Rebecca, who believed that something was spiritually wrong with Aaron and, and I quote, her anointing had lifted. On February 27th, three days before the killings, the Cappies insisted that Aaron and her relationship with Charlie. This was after Penny had visited the local library and followed her sister's advice to view Charlie's MySpace profile, which contained statements about having sex, getting drunk, being promiscuous, and just being, you know, a typical, reckless teenage boy. To their surprise when they demanded this breakup, Aaron didn't argue and instead tearfully admitted that she had been considering ending things with Charlie for a while, but was unsure of how to do so. Before the family left for Bible study, Aaron promised that she would end her relationship with Charlie, which this was great news to her parents. They felt like finally she was recognizing this

wasn't a good situation for her. It wasn't the healthy path that they wanted her to be on, that she was in agreeance. It wouldn't be an argument and they were going to be able to forge ahead. But as you've probably guessed by now, that is sadly not what happened. instead. Just three days later, Charlie stormed into the cafy's home and he committed one of the most brutal crimes that this small Texas town had ever seen.

I knew immediately why he was there. He was to get revenge because we made him break up with our daughter. I heard my son Matthew cry out. He said, "Charlie, Charlie, why are you doing this? No, Charlie, no. Please, why are you doing this?" And then I'm trying to get up and all of a sudden, bam, bam, I heard the gunshots. I realized Matthew's been shot. So, I finally I managed to get to my feet. I'm trying to get out the bedroom door to get upstairs to my children. But by this time, the house is totally engulfed. I'm hit hit by a wall of flames, forced back into my bedroom, and there's Penny laying there. And when I saw her, I immediately knew she was gone because not only did they come in and shoot, that he also came in with this samurai type sword and she would nearly be decapitated. And I guess it's just the shock that I'm in because I'm thinking if I could just get to my neighbors, somehow we can fix this. We

can get them out. Everything's going to be okay. And that's I'm not thinking rational. I'm just got to get help. Got to get them out. By now, the property was covered with first responders, investigators, and other law enforcement personnel. The ambulance was about to pull away from Tommy's house when another sheriff investigator climbed inside. Terry, who was straining to catch his breath, muttered out, "I don't think I'm going to make it." The officer kneelled down and asked him some questions where Terry was able to tell him that Charlie Wilkinson was his daughter's boyfriend and that he and his wife had recently demanded that Aaron stop seeing him. Kurt Fischer, another chief deputy that arrived at the scene, shook his head when he heard Charlie's name. His boys were friends with Charlie. They were seniors together and fished and went four-wheeling often together. Officer Fischer told the

detective that he had even spotted Charlie's car parked outside of Matthew Wade's trailer while driving to the crime scene. Matthew Wade was a few years older than Charlie and would often provide his home as a party house for the teens while supplying them with alcohol as well. So, officers sped to that run-down blue single wide trailer. No lights were on in the house. A random teenager answered the door and agreed to let the police officers in. Stepping over piles and piles of dirty clothes and beer cans, he walked into Matthew Wade's room where he and his girlfriend were laying asleep. They continued down the hall to another room where they found Charlie lying on a mattress, awake, wearing only blue jeans with a semi-automatic handgun on the floor beside him. Officer Fischer yelled at Charlie to put his hands up and he led Charlie outside in handcuffs, reading him his Miranda rights and informing him

that he was going in and going to be questioned. Officer Fischer informed him that the Cathy family had been shot and killed and asked if he had anything to do with it. Charlie stated that he didn't and that he had gotten drunk that night and passed out. And as all of this was happening, another deputy had gone inside to grab Charlie a shirt and his cowboy boots. And as he grabbed the boots, he noticed that they had blood spatter on them. As the sun rose, the fire was still burning on that house. The firefighters had been struggling for several hours to put out the flames, and by now, the house had burned down to the studs. They still hadn't even been able to pull out the bodies yet. Search warrants for the trailer were obtained by the police, and they went back to scour for any evidence that they could find that would tied Charlie to this crime scene. In the living room was a camouflage purse with Aaron Caffy's

driver's license in it. They searched the back bedroom where Charlie was found. There was no overhead light, but the windows were covered with blankets, so it was kept very dark in there. When one of the officers ripped the blanket off the window, he saw shell casings scattered across the carpet, a case of ammunition, a black and white western shirt, and a used condom. near the closet. He lifted up a blanket that was piled on the floor and saw blonde hair. A girl was sitting with her back to the wall in the fetal position. Officer Fischer drew his gun and demanded that this girl show him her hands. He asked her what her name was, and she said, "Aaron Cathy." When he asked her how she had gotten there, she acted confused and said, "I don't know. Where am I?" Aaron was transported to the Hopkins County Memorial Hospital in Sulfur Springs for a full medical evaluation.

One of the detectives recommended that the chief of police, Shana Sanders, from the Reigns Independent School District, conduct an interview with Aaron in the hospital's trauma room. This chief of police, Shana Sanders, was known for being approachable, was well acquainted with many of the high school students as well. The sheriff's deputy, Serena Booth, was also present during this interview. Aaron was considered a potential victim who may have been kidnapped after these murders. So with a gentle demeanor, Shana questioned Aaron about what she remembered. Aaron spoke hesitantly and softly, giving limited information.

Aaron, you said that you woke up and smoke was everywhere. Is that right? And you said that two guys were with swords. Are you okay?

Um, tell me again what they told you to do. going to stay down. Where were you at when you first saw them?

I was in his house that was like and then last remember until this morning. Despite being tearary at the beginning of the interview, Aaron showed very little emotion. When Sanders asked if there was anything else that she wanted to add, Aaron whispered, "They're coming after me." Virginia Daily, Aaron's maternal grandmother, had come to tell her that her father had somehow lived through this extremely brutal attack. Two officers felt horrible for Aaron. They stayed by her side for 5 hours until she was discharged from the hospital, then offered to take her and her grandparents to the ICU at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler to see her father. All the while just telling Aaron how tough she is. During the same time, Charlie was being interviewed by Detective Alman and Texas Ranger John Vance at the sheriff's office in Emory.

Charlie, who realized he was in serious trouble, was asked by the detective to give a full account of the events from the previous night. The investigation was already starting to reveal discrepancies as Charlie was being questioned because now there was a survivor, Terry Caffy, identifying him as one of the attackers. It's a new year and if you're trying to get back to feeling like yourself again, whether that means losing weight in 2026 or just kind of feeling more energetic or just more comfortable in your own body, I know how overwhelming that can all feel, especially when there is so much conflicting information out there about what actually works. But that's why I want to tell you about Hers weight loss. With hers, they connect you with a licensed medical provider who determines if treatment is right for you and helps you create a personalized plan based on your goals, your health history, even

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that fits you. That's fs.com/10tolife. Weight loss by hers is not available everywhere. Compounded drug products are not approved or evaluated for safety, effectiveness, or quality by the FDA. Prescription required. See website for full details. Important safety information and restrictions. Actual price depends on product and plan purchased. So gradually, Charlie started to provide information piece by piece. Charlie revealed that Aaron had called him the day before the incident. She was angry with her parents for forbidding her from seeing him. She expressed her desire for her parents to be killed, but Charlie suggested that she should simply just leave. However, Aaron insisted that she wanted them killed and that she wanted Charlie to do it. So, sometime after 1:30 a.m. the following day, he and a friend had visited the Cathy household.

Initially, he declined to name the friend who was his hunting buddy and the younger sibling of Matthew, Charles Wade. So, we are going to be calling him Wade throughout the story because Charles and Charlie can get a little bit confusing. So, Wade needed money. So, Charlie had offered his accomplice $2,000, which he had been told was stored in a lock box inside the Cathy home as payment for assisting in the murder of the Caffy family. According to Charlie, Bobby Johnson, who was Charles Wade's girlfriend, accompanied them in her silver Dodge Neon. He stated that Bobby was unaware of their intentions, but she insisted on coming with them nonetheless. Charlie recounted to the detective that they initially had to turn away from the caffy home because the family dog was barking excessively.

However, Aaron later called Charlie on his cell phone and promised to keep the dog quiet if they returned. So, with Charles Wade at the wheel of Bobby's Dodge Neon, they went back to the Cathy residence. The trio picked Aaron up from the end of the driveway of her parents' home and drove around for about an hour while they discussed their plan. According to Charlie's account, he repeatedly begged Aaron to think about just running away, but she remained strong in her desire for her parents to be killed. In the end, they returned to the vicinity of the Cathy home and parked nearby. The plan was set in motion that Charlie would carry out the murder of Aaron's parents and Wade would eliminate the two children to leave no evidence behind. And as Charlie was explaining his willingness to fulfill Aaron's request, he told law enforcement, "I don't have a conscience.

I joined the army to carry out any task without question." According to Charlie, he and Wade entered the cafe home through the front door, which was left unlocked by Aaron while she and Bobby remained in the car. Carrying a 22 caliber pistol and two samurai swords, they moved swiftly through the house. Charlie made his way to Terry and Penny's bedroom on the first floor and shot them with his pistol until it jammed. He then passed the weapon to Wade, who resolved the issue and fired two additional shots. Charlie then re-entered the home and slit Penny's throat to confirm her death. The noise of the gunfire woke Bubba and Tyler, who cried out for their parents and then barricaded themselves in Aaron's room.

Charlie went up the stairs and told the boys to get out of Aaron's room and go back into their own beds. He said that they were frightened and he couldn't bear to look at them. In response to this, Bubba attempted to defend himself by kicking Charlie. Wade, who was still downstairs, fired a shot from his 22 caliber pistol, striking Bubba in the face as he and Tyler stood on the balcony. According to Charlie, he and Wade had separated after Bubba's death with Wade going upstairs to take care of Tyler. Charlie mentioned that he was unable to bring himself to kill the young boy and became emotional as he described WDE's actions to the detectives. He stated that he watched as Wade repeatedly stabbed Tyler until he no longer moved. Through tears, Charlie expressed his regret and disbelief that the innocent child had died, questioning why it had happened.

You thought, right? Yeah. Did you see some kids? No. After the murders, he and Wade took a suitcase from Aaron's room that she had packed prior to the events, which Charlie says she was very pleased about. She smiled, apparently, telling them, "I'm so glad it's over." The two of them then went back into the house to retrieve the lock box. Aaron had provided Charlie with the combination which he used to open it. According to Charlie, they took $375 and some change along with items from Tererry's wallet and Penny's purse. To cover their tracks, they set fire to furniture, clothing, and bed sheets using their pocket lighters before making a quick escape from the Cathy house, which was now fully engulfed in flames. The four of them drove around for a while on back roads to gather their composure and blow off steam. Wade then dropped Aaron and Charlie off at the trailer where the two of them had

sex. The investigation progressed rapidly on Saturday afternoon with the detectives discovering that Aaron's toxicology test, which was performed to check for the presence of drugs such as Rohypnol and GHB that can cause memory loss, came back negative. Additionally, she showed no signs of having inhaled smoke, nor did she ever even smell like smoke at all. Bobby Johnson was picked up by Officer Fischer near the restaurant where she worked as a dishwasher, and Wade was pulled over while driving her car. At the sheriff's office, Bobby initially pretended not to know anything. But once the officers informed her that Wade and Charlie were both in custody, she admitted to what she knew. Wade, who initially kept quiet, finally broke down and confessed under the detectives persistent questioning. Both of their details were completely consistent with Charlie's.

Wade showed absolutely zero remorse and nonchalantly described the murder of the two boys. As the conversation came to an end, he revealed a detail that Charlie had omitted from detectives.

Anybody say anything in the car after y'all left the house? Mhm. Aaron said, "Holy [ __ ] that was awful.

Holy [ __ ] that was awful." As the suspects were being interrogated at the Emory Sheriff's Office, Aaron's grandparents were in route to that hospital in Tyler with Chief Sanders and Deputy Booth as escorts. However, their journey was interrupted when Chief Fischer called Sanders on his cell phone to inform him that Aaron had been implicated in the Cathy murders and needed to be taken into custody. So, Sanders pulled over into a parking lot and the dailies followed. She informed them of the situation and requested the Aaron step out of the car. Virginia Daly became extremely distressed and grabbed Aaron's face, demanding to know if she had any involvement in the murders.

Aaron began crying, stating that she had no part in this. One officer stated, "After everything we had heard, I was picturing a monster, for lack of a better word. Here was someone who had dreamed up a scheme to murder her family and manipulated people into carrying out her plan. And then in walks this tiny, meek, blond-headed girl who couldn't fight her way out of a wet paper sack. Aaron was transferred to the juvenile detention center in Greenville where she was placed under arrest on charges of capital murder.

My sister told me that Aaron's been arrested for involvement of the murders. And when I heard that, I just I just lost it. I remember grabbing at IVs and tubes that were in me trying to pull them out. Now, somehow after being shot, losing his wife and his two sons in the most horrific way possible, and learning that his own daughter was involved, Terry still made the miraculous decision to move forward with forgiveness.

Of course, they were all blaming one another. The detectives were saying Aaron was the mastermind, that she was the evil one. Um, but none of that really mattered to me because I had chose that I needed to forgive them. and forgiveness isn't always easy.

Twice a week, Terry would make the journey to Greenville to visit his daughter. Although he was filled with questions he desperately wanted to ask her, he couldn't. Aaron's lawyer had informed him that their conversations were being recorded and anything that she said could be used against her in court. So Terry would sit across from Aaron, the only surviving member of his family, and talk about mundane things such as the weather. Visiting his daughter in the juvenile detention center was a painful experience for Terry, of course, but he felt it was necessary to be near his only surviving child. Aaron appeared to be fragile and stressed, dressed in her orange jumpsuit. Despite the heartache of their meetings, Terry made sure to tell Aaron that he loved her before leaving every single visit. During their conversations, he only dared to ask her one significant question. The thought weighed heavily on him, and

[clears throat] it was a question that haunted him more than any doubts about her guilt. And that question was, "Were your mother and I good parents?" He asked her this during their visit, seated on opposite sides of the plexiglass partition. Aaron, with tears welling in her eyes, reassured him, "Yes, you are the best parents anyone could ask for." Due to the intricate nature of four capital murder cases in a small rural community, the Texas Attorney General's Office was approached to help the Reigns County District Attorney's Office in prosecuting these four accused individuals. Assistant Attorney General Lisa Tanner, who is known for her tough and relentless approach in the courtroom, was tasked with bringing the four defendants to justice. With her extensive experience as a trial lawyer and her record of putting four men on death row in her 18-year career, the Texas Attorney General's office believed that she was

the ideal person to assist the Reigns County District Attorney in prosecuting this very complex case. The motive behind the crime was elusive and complicated. Despite the fact that Charlie and Wade had been consuming alcohol, there were no signs of drug usage. Furthermore, Aaron's desire to have her parents murdered didn't make sense as she had not suffered any abuse by them. In fact, a psychological evaluation conducted by the court failed to uncover any evidence of abuse in the Cathy household. And although the Caffies might have been, okay, a little overly strict in their religion, such as that time when they reacted in such an extreme way to another girl having romantic feelings for Aaron. Aaron herself later admitted that her parents never physically abused her like she originally claimed.

When I look back on it now, this was all just stupid. I mean, for what? You know, they weren't beating me. They weren't starving me to death. I had it made. You know, daddy bought me a car, let me have a job. But Lisa Turner had no doubt at all that Aaron was the mastermind behind these brutal murders, stating that her phone records is what really led her to believe this, stating, "When I saw the phone records, I realized that it didn't matter if a single one of the other defendants testified against her. We were still going to be able to convict her of capital murder." From 11:46 p.m. to 12:48 a.m. the evening of the murders, Aaron called Charlie six times from inside the Cathy house. But the kicker was that from 1:22 a.m. to 1:58 a.m.

when she called Charlie seven more times that matched what Charlie had told them, which was when she kept calling saying, "Where are you? What's taking so long? I'll keep the dog quiet. Get back over here." Showing that she was the driving force behind this. In June, Lisa Tanner met with Terry Cathy and presented him with the phone records. She wanted to clarify why the prosecutors were requesting the court to classify Aaron as an adult. If the court granted the request, Aaron would face adult penalties, including life imprisonment, without parole, with the exception that a juvenile cannot be sentenced to death, even if they are classified as an adult.

And let me just say, I can't imagine having to be the person informing the victim of this crime who also happened to be the parent of the suspect about this situation. So Lisa brought all of the relevant documents and pictures and they went through everything together. She showed him photos of the suitcase that Aaron had packed and the lock box. She showed him the statement from a friend of Arens about how Aaron wanted them to be killed. She also told Terry about how Aaron and Charlie had sex after the murders. And while Lisa was telling this poor man all of these horrific details and the picture was all coming together for him, he just sat there and sobbed. But even after seeing every last piece of evidence, he still continued to visit his daughter and even stood by her at every court appearance, holding her hand. Many were puzzled by Terry's unwavering loyalty, but others, particularly in the miracle faith

Baptist community, viewed it as a manifestation of unconditional love as told by scripture. Terry particularly found comfort in a verse from the book of Romans 11, which stated, "Bless those who persecute you." This verse ultimately guided his desire to see his family's murderers avoid the death penalty. Even writing to the Reigns County District Attorney, "My heart tells me there have been enough deaths. I want them in this lifetime to have a chance for remorse and to come to a place of repentance for what they have done. Killing them will not bring my family back." As a result of Terry's wishes, and after consulting with the attorney general's office, they decided not to forego the death penalty. In November, all of them entered guilty p for three counts of capital murder.

During the January sentencing hearing, Terry stood up to address the defendants. He spoke to Wade first, who showed no emotion, then turned to Charlie, who had tears in his eyes. He said, "Charlie Wilkinson, I want to say to you today that I forgive you. Not so much for your sake, but for my own. I refuse to grow into a bitter old man. If I want to heal and move on, I must find some forgiveness in my heart. And that has been the hardest thing that I have ever had to do because you took so much from me. Bobby Johnson plead guilty to being an accomplice who did not use a weapon and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. However, she is eligible for parole in March of 2028, a stiff price for being in love and willing to do anything for your boyfriend. Charlie and Wade both plead guilty and were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Eventually, Aaron agreed to a plea agreement which

consisted of two life sentences to be served simultaneously and an additional 25 years. With good conduct, she will become eligible for parole when she reaches the age of 59. After the sentencing, Terry moved into a little brick house in Wills Point, which is located approximately 30 mi southwest of Alba. His home is just a few miles from the cemetery, where his wife, Penny, and his two sons are buried. In April 2009, he was ordained as a minister and often delivered his testimony at various churches on weekends, using his family's tragedy as an example of the power of forgiveness. Now, something that came as a major surprise to many of his friends is that Terry actually married 7 months later. Sonia Webb was a single mother raising two sons and working as a home health aid, and they hit it off. After meeting at work, they went to lunch together in June 2008 and found that they had a lot in common, never running

out of things to discuss. However, this marriage ended in divorce. Terry stated that he was just trying to move on too quickly. He later remarried again and eventually had another child with his newest wife, Karen. It's recently come out that Terry and Karen are second cousins, which is technically legal in the US, although it is very rare. Terry's twice weekly visits turned into once a month as he drove three hours to visit Aaron while she was incarcerated in Gatesville. He stated that he just wanted to make sure that she had something to live for. Aaron eventually admitted to both her father and the investigators that she did know about the murders ahead of time. But she said [clears throat] that Charlie, he was the real mastermind behind all of it, stating that she had intended to run away on the night of the murders, but then changed her mind. She claimed that the phone calls were made to prevent

Charlie from coming to the house. According to Aaron, it was Charlie who wanted the family dead, and she had been unable to stop him when he arrived. But she told a different story to Israel Lewis, the defense team's mental health counselor. During her conversation with Lewis, Aaron claimed that Charlie had a tendency to be violent and had taken her family's lives after she ended their relationship and decided to blame her for orchestrating it all. Israel told reporters that he has worked with some good liars, but Aaron was one of the best. She seemed totally sincere and genuine and that he would have put his license on the line to say that she was telling the truth. She spoke with tears in her eyes, saying, "God will save me.

He knows I'm innocent." And Israel isn't the only professional who felt duped by Aaron's lies. Jordan Rener, a counselor in the Texas prison system, also recently shared her experience working with Aaron. And this weekend as I'm working with her, I had never met her before and I had not heard her story. And so she was able to take me for a ride, basically telling me the version of the story that she wanted me to hear. And what I didn't know is that she is a psychopath. And she was getting sick pleasure out of toying with me, watching my emotional responses, and just seeing what she could get away with. And I was totally sucked in. I totally was buying everything she was telling me. And I felt pretty safe around her because she was a small, petite person. But the moment that everything in the room changed was whenever she was looking down. She she really wasn't even looking at me. She was just kind of looking down

and talking real soft like this. And all of a sudden she just does this. And y'all, when she looked up at me that way, there was a black darkness in her eyes that I have never seen in anybody before. And it scared the [ __ ] out of me. I suddenly felt extremely vulnerable, like I was in a predatory environment, and I was not safe. Okay, I want to share something with you really quickly that I've genuinely been loving since the moment I tried it. And yes, this segment is also sponsored by them. And it is Jones Road Beauty. You may have heard of them right now. If you've ever felt like your makeup just looks like heavy or cakey, or if you're like me, it just takes way, way, way too long in the morning. Same. That's why I'm kind of obsessed with Jones Road, especially their miracle balm because it's one of those rare products that actually makes your skin look better instead of like trying to cover up the

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sent you. Again, that is jonerroadbeauty.com code10 to life. In more recent interviews, though, Aaron's story has changed again. She's finally admitted that she hasn't been telling the truth about her involvement in the murders and that she had more to do with the murders than she originally said. And heartbreakingly, she even admitted that she knew that her parents would die. She knew that her sweet younger brothers would die as well. And she could have stopped it. And she chose not to. She didn't.

You have told so many different stories and and theories here, none of which comport with the facts. You told the police what I read to you here. That was a lie, right? Then you you told your father a story. You you told one of your counselors a completely different story, right? You said you were kidnapped, but that was a lie, right? And I know you haven't talked to Charlie since this happened, correct? And you haven't talked to Charles Wade, and you haven't talked to Bobby. You haven't talked to anybody, but the police have talked to everybody and they are all telling exactly the same story even though they were interviewed independently. They all tell the same story and then you tell it differently and you haven't told the truth yet, have you?

You finally said, "Okay, go kill my parents, my mother and my father, the woman that brought me into the world, people that have fed me and clothed me and housed me and loved me every day of my life. Sure, go kill them."

What did they do that was so bad that you were willing for them to be killed? Nothing.

Did you think about the next morning my parents will be dead? You had two little brothers in the house. What was going to happen with them? [snorts]

I didn't really think about that too much. Did you think they were going to be killed?

Close my mind. Yes. Were you the motivating force behind this happening? If not the motivating force, a motivating force. I

I probably adding fuel to the fire. You wanted them dead. Tell me what you're thinking.

I wasn't thinking that. Not I mean I wasn't like mad mad at them or anything like like that. Just I feel like it just happened.

You got tired of them bickering and said just do it. Is that true? Sorry. Oops.

You gave the command. Just do it. Do you accept that your family would still all be alive

if you had wanted them to be alive? In other words, that you could have stopped this at any time?

Yes. Oh, yeah. You accept that? Yes. That in itself must be a terrible burden on you that you had that power to stop this happening. that you never chose to take that choice, that option.

And you don't have to take Aaron's word for it because another of her ex-boyfriends came forward and said that Aaron actually tried to get him to kill her parents well before Charlie was even in the picture.

And doing the investigation here, we've learned that u that you and Aaron had uh dated at one time. What caused the the breakup?

Her mom and dad didn't want me seeing her. Now, as I ask questions, if I ask a direct or hard question, I I need a grownup man's response, okay? To help solve what truly happened that night.

I'm going to tell you the truth, okay? And she told me that she was going to hire somebody to go out there and kill her parents.

Why was she wanting to have somebody go out to the house and kill the parents? cuz she told me that every time she gets a boyfriend that she really likes, her mom and dad tries to break him up.

Despite all the evidence against Aaron, I mean, the phone calls, the statements from the ex-boyfriend, her all but admitting it. Her dad, Terry, still holds firm in his belief that his daughter could have never masterminded such a horrible crime.

But [clears throat] looking back now, I honestly believe that she was not the mastermind. And I'm not saying that out of denial because it's my daughter. But I don't believe my daughter's evil and I don't believe that she was the driving force. She was a contributor. Yes. But you got to understand this was a vulnerable 16-year-old girl. This is this controlling psychopath, sociopath guy. You mix that together, we this is what you ended up with. In fact, Terry is so convinced that Aaron's not the mastermind that he said that his only goal now is to see her released from prison. Her father will be in his 80s by the time she's released and says that his prayer is that he will live long enough. Saying, "I want to go. I want to go get Aaron. I want us to walk away arm in-armm and never look back." Now, I do have to wonder if part of Terry's belief about his daughter's innocence is him kind of protecting himself. I mean,

after losing his wife and his two other children, Aaron was all that he had left. So maybe he feels like acknowledging the full extent of her role in this crime would be like losing her in a sense as well. I mean, I can definitely see how that would just be too much for any father to bear. This story is just heartbreaking all around for Penny, Matthew, and Tyler, whose lives were taken way too soon, and for Terry, who has to live without his entire family every single day. I hope by hearing this story, it will be a reminder, especially for teenagers and young adults, that no matter how strict your parents are or how heated you feel in the moment, killing them is never the answer. And if your boyfriend or girlfriend or whoever is trying to get you to kill their parents, nope, nada, full stop. It is time to get out of that relationship. You're going to kill innocent people. You're probably going

to end up landing in jail as well. It is not worth it. there is no world in which it is worth it. Take a beat and just get out of that relationship and get out of that situation. This [clears throat] is one of the wilder cases that we have covered and it really does show I mean in my opinion a pretty big testament to forgiveness and the power of love. I don't know that I would be that forgiving but thank God I've never been in a situation like that where I've had to decide to be that forgiving or not. But I am curious to know what you think about all of this. Do you think that Aaron is truly a diabolical teenager and had sinister intentions from the very start, even from past relationships as we heard, or do you think that she's misunderstood and she was taken advantage of by these guys and that she never would have been the mastermind behind all of this? And what do you make of her dad, Terry, forgiving her? Let me

know in the comments. Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Tend to Life Reopened Edition. I will be back with you next Tuesday with an allnew neverheard case. So, make sure that you subscribe to the channel if you haven't done so already. Follow the podcast if you haven't followed already so that you do not miss it. And as a reminder, these episodes release earlier on the podcast version before they're released on YouTube. And the uncensored version will always be on the podcast, whereas the censored versions go out on YouTube.

Okay, thank you again and until the next one, stay safe. Bye.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Teen Girl Orchestrates The Unthinkable | Erin Caffey"?

Annie Elise (Host), Aaron Caffy (Guest), Terry Caffy (Guest), Charlie Wilkinson (Guest), Bobby Johnson (Guest).

What is "Teen Girl Orchestrates The Unthinkable | Erin Caffey" about?

In March 2008, the Caffey family in Alba, Texas, was brutally attacked, resulting in the deaths of mother Penny and two young sons, while father Terry survived despite multiple gunshot wounds. Investigations revealed that the orchestrator of this horrific crime was 15-year-old Erin Caffey, driven by a secret relationship and a plot fueled by obsession and manipulation, ultimately shattering her…

What is mentioned in this Annie Elise episode?

37 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Murder, Terry Caffy, Charlie Wilkinson, Aaron Caffy, forgiveness, capital murder. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Teen Girl Orchestrates The Unthinkable | Erin Caffey"?

The episode runs 55 min; the transcript is about 9,924 words in 92 timestamped sections.

More from Annie Elise

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 24, 2026.