Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - New Wife Shot Dead by Angry Husband Over 'Nagging'

Episode Date: May 20, 2026

Tiffani Jade Scarborough was a loving mom to a four-year-old son and a nurse. In June 2021, Tiffani and her newlywed husband, Ben Whitaker, didn't show up for work. When co-workers went to check on them, police found a gruesome scene in Dublin, Georgia. Ben admitted to shooting Tiffani because she was upset with him for drinking. Law&Crime's Angenette Levy goes through video of the police response and Ben's admissions in this episode of Crime Fix — a daily show covering the biggest stories in crime.PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW: Download the FREE Upside App at https://upside.app.link/crimefix to get an extra 25 cents bonus for every gallon on your first tank of gas.Host:Angenette Levy  https://twitter.com/Angenette5CRIME FIX PRODUCTION:Head of Social Media, YouTube - Bobby SzokeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinVideo Editing - Daniel CamachoGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I got one who's down. She's covered in blood. A gruesome discovery at a newlyweds home, chaos, as the wife's boss is the one trying to save her. Get out, sir, please. She's alive. I want to help her sassetate her. Now, damn it. But where is her new husband? And what happens when the cops question him? I'm Ann Jeanette Levy, and this is crime fix. You know, one of the reasons that we can cover truly tragic cases like the murder of Tiffany Scarbo is because we have partners like Upside. Upside is an app that will give you cash back on things that you buy all of the time,

like carry out gas and groceries. Here's how it works. You download Upsides free app, claim an offer at one of the locations, and pay with your credit card. Verify your purchase, and then just like that, you can see your cash that you will get back. So say I want pizza one night. I will search upside offers. After I spend, money appears in my app that I can transfer straight to my bank.

Upsides frequent users earn an average of $254. back a year. You can't beat that. So to start getting your cash back, click the link in the description, or scan the QR code on your screen and use the promo code Crime Fix to get an extra 25 cents back on every gallon on your first tank of gas. Tiffany Scarborough was a beautiful 25-year-old woman. She was a nurse with co-workers who adored her. But more importantly, she was a daughter and a mother to a young son. Sadly, her life was stolen from her by the man who vowed to love cherish and protect her. It was June 29th, 2021. Tiffany did not show up for work, and her co-workers, they knew something was wrong, so they went to the home that she shared with her new husband,

Ben Whitaker, in Dublin, Georgia. She's our, we work with her and she didn't show up for work, and neither did her husband. And his vehicle ain't here. That's not her chism. There's gym. This glass is shattered. His mama says something about a gun shot or something over there. When was this? We don't know. I think she could just tell by the window. We don't know, Dr. Chisholm.

I'm just got there. I'm trying to figure out who's supposed to be here last night. That's what I'm trying to figure. Just Tiffany and Ben. Come on. Let's go. I don't get in. Which glass is busted.

The back one. Alright. Ben's cars not here. Jesus, right. Whose house is this? This is Ben, Ben and Tiffany. I think we got a gunshot right here. Huh?

Do what? See that right there? Oh, crap. Hangly, y'all back up. What's up, brother? Who all lives here, daughter? Ben and Tiffany Whitaker. All right.

It looks like a gunshot bullet is what I'm thinking. That's what his mama said. Really, I'm getting you. shots fired over here last night. Can't we get in? Y'all go back to the road. Ready, I got a DOA. I got a DOA, ready.

On Penn Avenue off of Stonewall. Y'all back up. Y'all come on back. Come on back. I'm the dad. Y'all go on to the road. Who's going to be yours? I'm Ben's father. It ain't been on the floor I'm seeing. Y'all come on back. Y'all come on back. 17. I can't get access. The doors lot, but I see one.

on the floor. Now this is a very serious situation and police know it. They've been called to a house where a husband and a wife haven't shown up for work and there's a gunshot in the window pane of the back door. Time is of the essence. Someone inside may be hurt or worse. Scott, go ahead and run some tape up in the front, keep them out. So I'm telling you to get out of the crime scene, sir. I'm telling you to get out. I'm telling you to get out. We're going to handle it. Get out, sir, please. She's alive. I want to help resuscitate her. Now, I'll stand back, just go in. If she's alive, all right? Go. Get in! Just, I'll stand back, just go in. If she's a lieball, hang on. Go. I'm 17. Am I good to make entry on the front door, the back door is where

we're going to have evidence? They won't let me. Who won't let you? Supervisor will not let me in? Who's the supervisor? My supervisor? My supervisor... I'm Tim Chapman. They're all Tim Chapman. Supervisor be here in just a second, sir. Sir, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I really am. My wife just died last week now.

Jim. Ask her what time this gunshot allegedly took place. When is this? What time this gunshot allegedly took place? When is this? They just didn't show up for work. How did they know about a gunshot? Because you said it.

Who? You? No. When I pulled up, they said something about a gunshot last night. So she, so she come out here and seen it, is what you're saying. Is what you're saying? This morning. Uh-huh.

Just a few minutes. Okay. Tiffany's colleagues are supposed to work. We hadn't. Tiffany's colleagues are frantic. They want to try to save her life. They're on the way. They're on the way. They give permission for you to go in.

She's alive. We resuscitate her. Can't you do that? I mean, damn. Well, that's what I asked for if I can go in through the front. They told me to... The physician's here, and let me resuscitate her if she's alive. Who tell you not going on? Brooks, I told him I make interest through the front because she's out the rear. Hey, you about the cap this out. Tell them to that Bruce told him that they couldn't go in, but we got a physician here. Can we go into the house?

Well, one thing we got to do, Jim, we got to clear. Huh? She said, yeah. We need to go in through the front, Tanishan, and clear it. Is she breathing? It don't look like it, Tanisha. This looks like it happened. I can't tell you.

You can't see anything. You can just make her out on the floor. What she is? We don't know anybody else in the house. Gee. We got one at the back door. You can't see much in the house. I got one who's down.

She's covered. in blood. She's laying directly at the back door. I got evidence all at the back door. Are we clear to go in through the front and clear it? Yeah. Yeah. All right. It's deadbolted. That's where all your evidence is. I couldn't tell you. This ain't working. Oh, it's a chain right here. Okay. Let me see if I can. I can break that chain along. It's clear back here, Tunisia. Clear it back here. It's true. Come on. Double PD? Inside the home, officers found Tiffany Scarborough. She had been shot and she was laying on the kitchen floor.

The question, where was her husband of two months, Benjamin Whitaker, who was also a nurse? Jim, what's his name? Jim, what's his name? Ken? Ben. Ben Whitaker. Whitaker. The guy who lives here.

The guy who lives here, this is his mother's house, correct? This is my wife's mother. They say that the lady, that's her son that lives next door, correct? My son and her son, Ben, Whitaker. So Ben's going to be your son? Yes. We're going to need some information on Ben. Would you have it?

Yeah. When was the last time you've seen Ben yesterday? I didn't see it. Didn't see it. I didn't see it. They didn't see neither. You've been able to contact at all today. Is it ringing or going to voicemail or?

It's just saying it's not available. It's off. I'm sorry about this, bro. If you will, can you hang tight with me? She did. I don't know who this lady is, but I'll tell you, she's in shrubs, some scrubs like from the doctor's office like you at. She's going to be your victim.

I don't know who she is. So I don't know. I just know what's a, I look like a blonde female. Who's that going to be? Tiffany. son's wife. How long they've been married? About two months. How long they've been living together? Probably a year. They've been living right there together a year. Eventually Dublin police catch up with Ben Whitaker. How are you, man? You okay? Yeah. Are you being?

No. Okay. Let me see if I get this thing off. You both. How are you being? How long have you been wearing glasses? Since about a 7th grade. 7th grade? Yeah. I can't get my key out now. After the cuffs come off, the detectives and Ben Whitaker can get down to business. I just have a seat right there.

My name is John Knight. This is Don Rhodes. We work with the Dublin Police Department. We need to talk to you this afternoon. Do you mind talking with us? No, I don't know. I'm sorry? I don't learn.

Okay. I'm death in this ear. Okay. And I can harder hear out of this one so you'll have to speak up. Sorry, I have. Got cotton mouth. Cotton mouth? You need some water?

Would that help you? Yeah. It's room temperature, but I... That's not. It's pretty good. Oh. There you go. Thank you.

You're well. Your daddy Lee. He, uh, he worked on my eyes before. Got me some glasses. And the glasses he got me had it all gone. Look like a fishing line. Underneath, I paid about $600 those glasses. passed them two weeks fish line brother and I didn't take them back but what I got to do

before we get to talking is I've got to read you your Miranda rights have you ever heard of your Miranda rights okay you mind if I read them to you guys you have the right to remain silent do you understand that I do anything you say can be used against you in court of law do you understand that you have the right to talk to a lawyer having the president with you while you're being questioned you understand that If you cannot afford to hire lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before any question if you wish. Do you understand that?

Thank you. All right. You can decide at any time to decide these rights, not answer any questions or making any statements. Do you understand that? Yes, sir. All right, this right here is waiver rights. I have read the above statement of my rights. I understand each of those rights, and having those rights in mind, I waive them and will only make a statement.

Do you want to talk to us? Today? Now we're talking now? Right now? I can't. Okay. It doesn't take long for Ben Whitaker to reveal where he's been and what he has done. Who lives with you? Eli.

I'm sorry? I do and my wife did and Eli her son. How old is he? He's four. He's four. How old's your wife? Twenty-five. And you said you were 33?

Mm-hmm. So I want you told him? On that land you were on long ago, who was that blocking to? That's my dad's. That's beautiful. Yeah. Do you do your hunt? I do.

I got turned around back in there. It's been a long time. You got turned around? Done the way out. Yeah. What were you doing over today? What was I doing over? Mm-hmm.

Right on, and just walk around the woods. What times you get there? Um, I guess it would have been Monday at the evening. Monday evening? You've been there the whole time? You do done the day's Wednesday, right? Uh-huh. And you're telling me you got there Monday evening? I think that, right? Okay. Now, I want you to look at me. Look at my eyes when I talk to you right here. When I ask you questions, I pretty much know the answers to them. Okay. And the way we're going to keep this on a good note is I need you to tell me the truth. You know, I know it's human nature to lie.

stay out of trouble okay I know you didn't get there Monday evening I just don't remember you just don't remember was a night or day time when you got there night time about what time okay about 9 30 10 o'clock okay I was thinking somewhere around 942 so you're here everybody that's gone far here you're doing good what what got you to go out there it's okay so Okay. Yeah. A very bad thing.

I'm sorry? A very bad thing. A very bad thing. Tell me about that very bad thing, Ben? Well, my wife and I've got a lot of disagreements lately and she's been telling me over and over about things. Work at the hospital and really difficult. I started some new anti-depressant beds. I had several drinks the day.

Mm-hmm. And you said several drinks. several drinks. Alcohol? Okay. Do you drink very much? Not on a day-to-day basis, but sometimes, but sometimes I'll have. Okay. All right, so you had several drinks, he wasn't getting along very good. Okay. After the pizza came, tell me about that. Eli was eating at our coffee table. Mm-hmm. After you got done eating Julie too, you know, with her, um, down to her. from my island where Julie and her husband live.

Mm-hmm. Ben says on Monday night Tiffany's mother picked up her four-year-old son. Then Ben and Tiffany had an argument. What did you and Tiffany do? She was still chastised and her me about having a couple of drinks. Just, I guess, just that constant naggy feeling set me off. Just nagging at you and it set you off? When you say set you off, does that mean agitate, aggravate?

What did you do when it set you off? I'm not trying to remember. I got my pistol out of the nightstand. Mm-hmm. You too, I didn't know how you nightstand. I walked into the kitchen and I shot her. You walked into the kitchen and you shot her. How many times did you shoot her?

Three total. That's hard. You feel better that you told somebody? I don't know. I don't know if I feel better or not. Well, you seem like a pretty good person because you, everything I've asked you, you've been pretty much dead on with it. When you shot her, you think you said maybe three times?

Okay. What did you do after that? I wasted some time. I sit there. in the bathroom and I put some random shit in the bags in the truck. I just drove up there. I mean, I knew I'd be there. Ben Whitaker has just admitted to murdering his wife of two months Tiffany Scarborough

because she had chastised him over his drinking. He reveals even more details. You went to the land? What you're talking about? Yeah, he used the GPS in the truck. Pardon me? Did y'all use the GPS in a truck for... To find you?

Honestly, Lawrence County found you. I can tell you how. We talked to your dad and he told us that he owned some land up there. They don't go too very much. But you liked it. What did you do with the pistol that you shot? It's in one of those suitcases. It's one of the suitcases?

It's just two-legged suitcases in the bag of the truck. and it's in one of them, I think. I put it in there. Okay. Did you have any more weapons in the truck, wouldn't you? I told one person, but I put some of the knives I had collected with me in one of my sitcases. I have a HK tent, 40-Cal, and I, sitting in the side seat, a passenger seat. And, um, an AR-15 in the back of the truck.

The AR-15 in the two blocks? In the two blocks? Okay. And... Sir? That's all the weapons you have? The AR-15, the H&K, the nine, the... You said, make a suitcase. Yeah.

There's everything in the truck. Okay. If you consider an axe, the weapon, I have... The axe. You did a lot of chopping now. there. Mm-hmm. Did you have anything?

I do. Okay. So, are you wearing the same clothes that you were wearing then when you did the shooting? No, ma'am. Okay. Where are those clothes at? They are. I think they're on the cut in that building where I was left last week.

Okay. What were they? What were you wearing? Blue jeans. I think it's sound like an orange pink... tank top, tank top, but in a lot. I don't remember how it had you done or not. Okay.

With the place that you're saying that you slept at last night, was that close to your truck? Yeah, probably 50 yards. Okay, so in close proximity where we found your truck at is where your clothes are gonna be at. Okay. And a lot of times people like to, If they have a close friend or they have a relative that they're close with, they may call and explain what has happened to try to get it off.

Did you call anyone and tell them what had happened? Did you text anyone and tell them? No. Okay. Did you bathe or anything after the fact? No, ma'am. No, it's been raining. So you would, I'm assuming, since you're in that little,

lean two type thing. Did you try to wipe down yourself? Did you have any blood on you or anything like that? I don't think so. I nick my finger trying to get that act out of the toolbox, but I don't think I'm any injured any. Ben Whitaker has readily and quickly confessed to murdering Tiffany, but the detectives have even more questions. Okay. The weapon, the 9mm. Did you walk down the 9mm? Did you walk down the 9mm? millimeter with anything, any type of cloth or you just put it in there. The magazine that was in the 9mm, do you remember how many it holds? I probably had 12 or 13, is that right? So 12 with 13 rounds in it?

I could be wrong. Sometimes people change out and shoot some and don't know how many is in there. Did you take the magazine out of the farm after you shot? Or is it still the same magazine? in the 901. Okay. Just out of, I know you said you've been drinking and was it more than you normally drink or is it a lot of people go home and after a day and not have a drink.

Is it more than what you normally drink? Probably. Okay. So would you have gone sort of get alcohol or did you have alcohol or did you have alcohol? You had some of that. What were you drinking? What was I? Mm-hmm.

I had a couple of genitonics. Okay. Um, and I know she said that y'all have been nagging, or she had been nagging, y'all had a little bit of difficulty. Um, when did you, did you plan to do this or was this, when you went to the, went to the bedroom to get the phone on? I didn't plan it. It was impulsive.

Okay. Did you tell her anything before then, before the shooting or? Did I tell her? Mm-mm. We talked a little bit well. Okay. The other question is, was she standing up when you shot her or was she sitting down or laying down? So when she was standing up and you shot her, I'm Tiffany.

Did she fall to the ground and you shoot more or did you just shoot all while she was standing up? I got all while she was standing. All while she was standing up while she was standing up when she was turning down? Okay. Was she? I can you remember. In one point, but I don't know she turned around or not. Okay.

Um, missed anything. Did you, when you left the house, did you secure the doors when you left the house? I just did the die block on the back door when I left. Okay. I have one question. Okay. I have one question. Okay.

Had you done any shooting in the house before? Did you ever shoot the gun in the house before this night? Yes. Okay. If we recovered seven or eight shell cases. Yeah? Yeah. You're seeing you shout out three times and we recovered, I think it was eight.

Well, let me see. Seven, seven shell cases. I didn't remember. You didn't remember? Okay. That's all I have. I'm gonna step out with just a second, just take. And then I'll come up again.

Okay. Yeah. I'm like telling you a lot to you. I didn't remember everything I is. we get aggravated you know we don't sometimes we don't think and let me tell you we don't we're not sitting here judging you okay do you need the amlets or anything to look at you are you injured in any way yes yeah I don't have any injuries okay do you have any questions of us and may not stay here or not you'll probably go

back to Lawrence County. We'll we'll talk about that in just a minute. I'll talk with them out there. I don't want to tell you you're going to stay here and then go to Lawrence County and I don't want to say you going Lawrence County and stay here. I want to be just as honest with you as you've been with me and you don't know how much. I appreciate that. I've been doing this 30-something years and I can count on one hand how many people have really been straight out honest like you. And I tell them the same thing I told you. Um, you have anything else? Yeah, I don't think so.

Doesn't matter to you? I've wanted some dry clothes. How do you get wet? Did that rain today? Waiting to the creek. Waiting in the creek. I didn't intend to get wet, but my foot slipped and so otherwise, might as well go ahead and get wet.

Okay. Do you know, this you're probably going to be under arrest, well, you're not going to probably going to be. You're going to be under arrest for murder. You know that? Yes. I asked a question. Sure. Okay.

I don't know where y'all were. I didn't want to interrupt y'all. So when you left the residents, your residence, after the shooting, and went to the, are you calling it the farm? I'm not sure what you're property. Okay. Your hunting property, whatever. What made you go there?

Running from the, you know, running from a state. I don't know how to do that. And that's fine, that's fine. Everybody has a place that they go to. I told him what his charters were. And do you have anything you want to ask with us? Oh, no. Do you want to call somebody?

Mm-hmm, I don't think so. Okay. Are there criminal lawyers in Dublin? I'm sorry? Are there criminal lawyers in Dublin? They are. I don't know. I don't know.

That would be. I can't tell you who they are. I mean, but we do have criminal orders then. Ben Whitaker would be charged and later booked for Tiffany's murder. There's one last thing, though. The detectives want to swab Ben's hands for gunshot residue, even with his full confession. Boy, hot in here, do you? I am sweating the death of me.

Listen, don't get nervous about me putting these gloves on, okay? I might not get them on. my hands are wetting and sweaty and this this test is not hurt at all okay there's no stick in or anything like I can't like I never made it as a doctor he's sweat makes some hard to get on huh sweat makes from test again yes you're a nurse are you know Seth you're a nurse are you're a nurse are you know Seth That boy would like a son to me. You know his mother?

If you would have scoot your chair up here and let me hold your left hand, please, sir. What I'm going to do is take this cap and just, does that hurt any at all? No, sir. Are you left-handed or right-handed? Right-handed? You shoot right-handed? I do. I probably use the hand of the support.

I'm sorry? I probably use this hand of support. Yeah. Most people do. Your dad told me that you were pretty proficient with weapons. You're pretty good with them? When you're deer hunting, what's the longest shot you ever made?

Probably you shot one, 200 a couple times. Okay. I'm going to do the same thing to your right hand, okay? Okay, flip it over for me. Your hands are cold, man. I'm going to go out everywhere. How are you? So you need some dry clothes?

Ben Whitaker was convicted of murdering Tiffany Scarborough after a second trial, the jury in his first trial was actually deadlocked, despite Ben's confession. He was sentenced to life without parole for Tiffany's murder. Following Tiffany's murder, her family set up the Tiffany Jade Foundation in her memory. It's an outreach ministry designed to promote awareness about toxic relationships, health, and safety for women. We've linked to the Facebook page for that foundation in the description. And that's it for this episode of Crime Fix.

I'm Ann Jeanette Levy. Thanks so much for being with me. I'll see you back here next time.