In a case that gripped Collin County, Kendall Thigpen-Watkins, a 34-year-old father, received a life sentence for the attempted capital murder of his son. The harrowing incident, which occurred on June 23, 2023, began when Thigpen-Watkins's wife contacted police, stating that her husband threatened to hang himself and their autistic son. Details provided by the Collin County District Attorney's Office report officers arriving at the scene to find the father and son hanging from ropes. They were saved by the quick actions of the responding police.
During the events that unfolded in their McKinney home, the police breached the front door after Thigpen-Watkins refused to exit and communicate further. It was Officer Jason Ogburn who lifted the young boy, cutting the rope and preventing fatal harm. Similarly, his colleagues were successful in preventing a tragic outcome for Thigpen-Watkins himself. According to the same information from the DA's office, the child suffered only rope burns to his neck and did not sustain internal injuries.
Evidence presented at trial revealed a pattern of escalating behavior from Thigpen-Watkins, including stalking his then-wife through their divorce process and an earlier incident where he fired a gun at a third party. Following the trial, he was found guilty of the attempted capital murder charge. "Thanks to the swift and courageous actions of McKinney officers, this child’s life was saved from a tragic fate at the hands of the very person who should have protected him," stated District Attorney Greg Willis post-sentencing.
