DUBLIN, GA – A former Georgia nurse will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury found him guilty of killing his wife less than two months after their wedding, a case that unfolded from a deadly shooting inside their shared home. Benjamin Whitaker was sentenced Wednesday to life without parole in the death of 25-year-old Tiffani Scarborough, who was found shot multiple times in June 2021.
Whitaker was convicted in March of felony murder, malice murder, and two counts of aggravated assault following a retrial. The sentencing had been moved up from its original May date. Prosecutors said the couple had been married just 59 days when Whitaker fired five shots at Scarborough before fleeing the residence.
Timeline of the shooting and arrest
Scarborough was reported missing from work on June 29, 2021, prompting concern from coworkers who went to the couple’s home. According to courtroom reporting, the coworkers saw bullet holes in the back door and called police. Officers arrived and found Scarborough dead inside.
Whitaker was located the next day in a wooded area near his parents’ home in a neighboring county. During a police interview, Whitaker described the moments leading up to the shooting, saying Scarborough “was chastising me about having a couple of drinks. That nagging set me off.” He told investigators, “I walked into the kitchen and I shot her.”
The couple had married on May 1, 2021, after about a year of dating. Both worked in the medical field, with Whitaker employed as a registered nurse at Fairview Park Hospital and Scarborough working at a local OB/GYN office. Scarborough had a young son who had moved into Whitaker’s home after the marriage.
Defense arguments and trial outcome
During trial proceedings, Whitaker’s defense argued the shooting was “out of character for him” and linked his actions to mental health struggles and medication. Attorneys said he had been taking Lexapro and Buspar for depression tied to experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling the combination “dangerous” and arguing it impaired his ability to distinguish right from wrong.
A previous trial ended in a mistrial. In the retrial, jurors reviewed the same police interview and defense claims that Whitaker experienced “serotonin syndrome” from the medications. After about three hours of deliberation, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts.
The sentence ensures Whitaker will remain incarcerated for the rest of his life without the possibility of parole.
