"Jury recommends death for the man who abducted, raped and killed Alianna DeFreeze", "Video shows murder suspect meeting Alianna DeFreeze, investigators say", "Man charged in Alianna DeFreeze murder case", "Christopher Whitaker convicted of killing Cleveland teen Alianna DeFreeze in death penalty case", "Alianna DeFreeze died of stab wounds, blunt force trauma", "Alianna DeFreeze's classmates plant garden in her memory", "Man accused of killing 14-year-old goes to trial", "Jurors see tools used in slaying of Alianna DeFreeze", "Alianna Selena DeFreeze (2002-2017) - Find a", "Alianna DeFreeze's killer, Christopher Whitaker, sentenced to death", "Jury recommends death penalty for Christopher Whitaker in murder of Alianna DeFreeze: video", "Man who killed Alianna DeFreeze was high on cocaine, unable to follow laws, according to psychologist", "Ohio Man Who Raped and Murdered 14-Year-Old Girl Gets Death Penalty: 'My Baby Didn't Have a Chance', "Sex offender sentenced to death in rape, murder of Ohio girl", "Parents of Alianna DeFreeze file wrongful death lawsuit", "Cleveland parents of Alianna DeFreeze, 14, receive $1M settlement after her 2017 murder", "Slain girl's family says Cleveland school should've notified them sooner of her absence", "Powerful message: Alianna DeFreeze's mother opens up about daughter's murder", "Alianna DeFreeze's grandfather was part of the militia that kidnapped Patty Hearst", "Accused of killing teen sexually assaulted, stabbed woman in 2005", "Witness describes seeing abduction of 14-year-old Alianna DeFreeze", "Disturbing details revealed in kidnapping and murder of Cleveland teen", "Disturbing details revealed during Alianna DeFreeze trial", "Christopher Whitaker is sentenced to death in murder of Alianna DeFreeze", "Alianna DeFreeze trial: Christopher Whitaker confession video", "L.A. councilman proposes ban to prevent adults with no kids from being in play areas", "Awful Details About The Man Sentenced To Death For The Rape And Murder Of A 14-Year-Old He Lured From A Bus Stop", "Ohio Supreme Court upholds death penalty for man guilty of raping, torturing, killing 14-year-old girl", "Hundreds come out to remember Alianna DeFreeze as she is laid to rest", "Death sentence for Alianna DeFreeze's killer", "Welcome to the Alianna Defreeze Let's Make a Change Foundation #ali", "Ohio Girl, 14, Abducted, Killed on the way to School and Her Parents Sue School for Not Reporting Her Absent", "Ohio school wins lawsuit over abduction, murder of Alianna DeFreeze", "Alianna's Alert: Ohio law will go into effect Friday after teen's tragic murder", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Alianna_DeFreeze&oldid=1151447966, Pages using infobox person with multiple parents, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Being the inspiration and namesake of Alianna Alert Being kidnapped, raped, tortured and murdered. [1][2] Whitaker, who had a criminal history involving grand theft, burglary, aggravated robbery, felonious assault,[3] and sexual assault,[4] took DeFreeze to an abandoned house, where he raped her. The seven-member Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, whose members are appointed by the governor, recommended unanimously Tuesday that Abbott commute the sentence. [6] DeFreeze died as a result of the stab wounds and blunt force injuries[26] which were numerous and severe. Prisoners are now required to serve at least 85% of their sentence. He removed their organs, and [14] The jury convicted Whitaker on February 13, 2018. HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) Texas Gov. Is Whip Whitaker a real person? - Daily Justnow I havent touched another person in 13 years, Whitaker told Clark, who said he accepted the prisoners request. But would you prefer execution? Abbott mentioned grieving father Kents plea for a life sentence as he announced his clemency decision. Ex-owner of Florida mortgage firm freed after 9 years of 30-year Later that evening, Kevin and Tricia were both fatally shot by the door, while Kent was wounded. Hampton said he was very relieved (Abbott) did the right thing.. [22], DeFreezes family began a nonprofit foundation in her name called the Alianna DeFreeze Lets Make A Change Foundation. Abbott, a Republican had the option of accepting the recommendation, rejecting it or doing nothing. I have not granted a commutation of a death sentence until now, Abbott said in a statement explaining his reasoning for granting clemency. I know they would not want Barts life taken for this. [22], Alianna DeFreeze was the granddaughter of Donald DeFreeze, the founder and leader of the Symbionese Liberation Army, a left-wing terrorist organization that gained notoriety for kidnapping Patty Hearst.[23]. A criminal complaint is merely an To play the part of Whip Whitaker, actor Denzel Washington also became familiar with flying. Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman/AP, The True Story Behind the Broadway Musical 'Parade', Starring Ben Platt, Texas Gov. Texas governor accepts recommendation, spares inmate | AP News The recommendation of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, and my action on it, ensures Mr. Whitaker will never be released from prison.. [33] Along with his death sentence, Whitaker was sentenced to forty-eight years in prison for aggravated burglary, felonious assault, rape, obstruction of justice, and gross abuse of a corpse. Christopher Brashear was convicted of two counts of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. It unnerved him a little to think that he, and the rest of the passengers, had entrusted their lives to a person that they knew nothing about. DeFreeze took a step back from Whitaker, who followed her. On Thursday, Texas Gov. Kent Whitaker wrote a book called Murder by Family, talking about how he forgives his son. The reason behind 261s crash was revealed to be an unscrewed jackscrew that came loose during the flight and led the plane to nosedive. [27][28], Whitaker claimed he was high on cocaine and blacked out during the crime. The lawsuit states that because of the defendants' negligence, DeFreezes last hours "were spent in excruciating, paralyzing, debilitating and unthinkable physical and mental pain. WebNEWARK, NJThree alleged members of a violent Newark street gang were indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges that include murder, racketeering, kidnapping, [41][42] DeFreeze's mother also expressed an interest in having more police protect the streets.[22]. The Memo: Republicans worry DeSantis has erred in Disney feud. [37], In January 2019, DeFreeze's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas naming the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, E Prep and Village Prep Woodland Hills, Friends of Breakthrough Schools, the City of Cleveland, the man who owned the abandoned house where the crime occurred, murderer Christopher Whittaker, and others as defendants. Mr. At one time, TBW was one of the largest privately held mortgage lending companies in the United States. Unknown to his parents, the dinner celebration marking his graduation was a fraud. Verdecia's family has established a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral expenses and other general costs in the wake of her death. The foundation works to address the issues of abandoned homes, help children obtain safe routes to school,[36] and address domestic violence, homelessness, and police-community relations. [17] DeFreezes family is seeking fifteen million in damages. But that doesnt mean the death penalty was the right choice in this case.. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, unanimously recommended the death sentence of Whitaker be commuted to life. Out of the blue, the plane has a mechanical problem and the skilled Whip crashes the plane in an empty field and saves the lives of ninety-six persons on board; however, four passengers and two crew members are killed. Plane crash in 'Flight' inspired by real-life disaster - CP24 [17] DeFreeze was reported missing, prompting a city-wide search. The portrayal of his struggle has been captured very realistically, according to Psychology Today. The Washington Post reports that the prosecutors of the case Fort Bend County District Attorney John F. Healey, Jr., and first Assistant District Attorney Fred Felcman believe Whitakers sentence is appropriate for the crime. There must be punishment. Taking this serious incident as its catalyst, the film drives its plot based completely on the complex nature of its protagonist. The 38-year-old succeeded in murdering his younger brother and mother and severely wounded his father, Kent Whitaker, in the brutal 2003 attack. He trained with real pilots to get a better sense of how they behave and take control of a slippery situation. Florida Man Kills Woman After Early Release Kent and Patricia Whitaker and their two boys had returned home the night of Dec. 10, 2003, following a restaurant dinner to celebrate Bart Whitakers college graduation when they were confronted by a gunman wearing dark clothes and a ski mask. To celebrate, the entire family, along with Whitakers younger brother, Kevin, 19, went out to a popular restaurant. A judge on Tuesday ordered the release of Lee Farkas, 67, chairman of the now-defunct Florida-based mortgage company Taylor, Bean and Whitaker. The pastor described Whitaker's demeanor as calm. Deana wants to discuss putting their son through a private school, but Whip doesn't want to discuss it at the moment, claiming he'll talk to her about it when he gets back to Atlanta. Considering all this, it is fair to say that while Flight might not be based on a true story, it walks a fine line with realism, especially when it comes to the portrayal of its characters. Attorneys for Alex Murdaugh on Thursday, March 6, 2023, filed a notice to appeal his convictions for the murder of his wife and son along with his life sentence. Verdecia was first reported missing by her family on September 27, three days after she had left home and two days after Pierson said that he killed her. Security footage later showed that this was not the case, as he had stopped for gas prior to the traffic stop that day. [9] DeFreeze appeared as if she had been dragged and thrown into the room. E Prep argued that it is immune from liability due to its status as a political subdivision. [9] The officers entered the house after noticing that the back door was open[2] and found a trail of blood leading from the dining room into a room behind a closed door. We're not going to stop until we see him in the electric chair.". He was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison . Is Flight a True Story? Is Whip Whitaker Based on a Despite this change, Pierson was still eligible for it as the change was not retroactive, allowing him to receive his early release in 2020. He is In the previous cases, then-Gov. In a clemency petition, Barts attorneys said his deeply religious father begged the district attorneys office with biblical quotations to seek life in prison for his son and was denied. Whitakers father, Kent, also was shot in the 2003 plot at the familys suburban Houston home but survived and led the effort to save his son from execution. As of Tuesday evening, it has raised over half of its $10,000 goal. Marshalls. One of the other results of Whitaker's murder was the end of parole for prisoners in Florida. Greg Abbott Seeks to 'Swiftly' Pardon Man Found Guilty of Murdering BLM Protester, Kim Kardashian, Kerry Washington & Others Helped Convince Okla. She was then stopped outside the True Gospel Missionary Baptist Church by Whitaker, who, according to video recorded from the church, had been pacing around the area for several hours. He is also accused of life insurance fraud, scheming to have his friend kill him and having a life insurance policy pay $10 million. Im thankful not for me but for my dad, Bart Whitaker told prison officials after getting the word in a tiny holding cell a few feet from the death chamber. According to the victim, he came out of the bathroom with a pair of scissors and began choking her. Whitakers father said he loves and has forgiven his son, calling him a changed person. FILE Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison after conviction in double murder trial during his sentencing at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., on Friday, March 3, 2023 after he was found guilty on all four counts. Flight Gov. Agency spokesman Jeremy Desel said Whitaker would not be returned to death row but would be taken to a prison processing facility where hed be treated as a new incoming inmate and eventually assigned to a unit in general population, a process that likely would take a couple of weeks. And I will do my best to uphold my role in the system.. If convicted, Findel faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and $250,000 in fines. The Texas man was to be executed for trying to kill his entire family. Steven Champagne was sentenced to 15 years. It was overpowering, he said of the governors decision, which he learned in a phone call from Keith Hampton, one of his sons lawyers. The Court was divided 6-1 on one aspect of Whitakers appeal, concerning the jury's inability to hear his offer to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The witness did not contact the police because he was unsure of the relationship between DeFreeze and Whitaker. Then, in a outstanding and inconceivable lang class of occasions, he was in a position to lost to the Wednesday, [5], DeFreezes body was identified using dental records by the medical examiner's office. WebA J Thomason #387264 Oklahoma Department of Corrections (OK DOC) Oklahoma City, OK. A E Lee #01074123 Missouri Department of Corrections (MO DOC) Jefferson City, The lawsuit alleges that the school was aware of DeFreezes absence but did not contact her parents. The other first-degree charges carry a maximum Having said that, certain aspects of the film are inspired by true events. Im honoring their memory, Kent said about his family. I put the plan in motion., Kent, who has since remarried, told the Post that this isnt just a case of a dad who is ignoring the truth about his son. Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jason Clark said Bart Whitaker placed his arm through the bars of the holding cell after he was finished speaking with prison officials and asked to shake his hand. Im 100 percent guilty, Whitaker testified at his trial in 2007. Airline pilot Captain Whip Whitaker uses cocaine to stay alert after a sleepless night in his Orlando hotel room. Kent Whitaker said he was humbled and looked forward to hugging and touching his son. The charges range from claims of more tax evasion, accusations he stole money from clients as a lawyer, and ran a drug and money laundering operation. [9][10], Whitakers murder trial occurred in February 2018. He was convicted in both of the killings and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Fasten your seatbelts securely now! The charges range from claims of more tax evasion, accusations he stole money from clients as a lawyer, and ran a drug and money laundering operation. What if that person was your only remaining child? the lawyers wrote as reported by NBC News. I havent touched another person in 13 years, Whitaker told Clark, who said he accepted the prisoners request. I told the police, If I see something, Im going to tell you. He pilots SouthJet Flight 227 to Atlanta, which experiences severe turbulence at takeoff. "People are going to look at me like a monster. (Andrew J. 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Whitaker was eventually arrested in Mexico after investigators discovered he plotted the murders in the hopes of collecting the familys estate, which was worth more than $1 million. Page 9192: Whip watches home movies and has been drinking and smoking. Police reported that, following his arrest, Pierson confessed to stabbing the woman four times with a screwdriver on September 25. Forensics analysts also found Whitaker's DNA on DeFreeze's body. Kent has also remarried. WHITAKER v. STATE Greg Abbott commuted Barts sentence from death to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Flight Ending, Explained: Is Whip Guilty? - The Cinemaholic His execution is scheduled to take place in July 2026. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. [31], DeFreeze's murder trial began on February 1, 2018. [4] An autopsy performed by Cuyahoga County Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. David Dolinak revealed that she suffered wounds caused by tools found in the house, including a drill, a screwdriver, and a box cutter. Unable to regain control, Whip is forced to make a controlled crash landing in an open field, hitting his head and losing co [2] The tools were laid out on a built-in bench in the dining room, which prosecutors described as a makeshift workstation. [5] Later, the jury recommended that Whitaker receive the death penalty and the judge upheld it. SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Secret Chinese Police Stations in Europe Are 'Tip of the Iceberg', Trump's Attorney Just Blew Carroll Rape Case, King Charles Says Royals Require 'Acting Ability', Ukraine Will Regain 'Significant Territory' From Russia, Florida GOP Paves the Way to Help Ron DeSantis Challenge Trump. One Killed, 2 Wounded in Shooting At Battered Womens Shelter Alex Murdaugh, the former South Carolina lawyer who is in jail for life for the killing of his wife and son in 2021, was charged with two counts of tax evasion by a state grand jury. The lawsuit claims that there was a system in place in which administrators at E Prep would send an automated message notification to parents to alert them about news involving their children, including unexcused absences. Charlie and Hugh also advise him to keep sober over the next few days. CEO Surrenders to FBI for $11 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme [17][38] In March 2019, the DeFreezes filed an amended complaint, which E Prep moved to dismiss. [34], Whitaker is currently imprisoned on death row at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, Ohio for aggravated burglary, kidnapping, rape, aggravated murder, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse. Did whip whitaker go to jail? - yoshiavct.com During the defense's cross-examination of E. Jean Carroll, Trump's attorney asked the writer why she "did not scream" when she was "supposedly raped.". Ted Cruz decries political smear job against Clarence Thomas for ethics Facebook privacy settlement: Who is eligible for a payment? Nicoles comes from AA meeting and finds Whip drunk in front of When he wakes up in the hospital, his friend from the airline union introduces him to a lawyer who tells him there's a chance he could face criminal charges because his blood test reveals that he was intoxicated with alcohol and cocaine. Even when his whole career and life are on the line, he is unable to cope with his addiction, refusing to take help despite receiving it multiple times. He is appealing the convictions. Also, Mr. Whitaker voluntarily and forever waived any and all claims to parole in exchange for a commutation of his sentence from death to life without the possibility of parole, Abbott continued, concluding, Mr. He hated his parents and brother at the time, he said. On December 20, 2003, Whitaker told his father and mother Tricia that hed just completed his final exams at nearby Sam Houston State University and that he would be graduating, according to ABC News. He put Hamptons call on his speakerphone. He faces about 100 other charges. Former TBW CEO Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for It went into effect in April 2019. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. [19], Alianna DeFreeze, the daughter of Damon DeFreeze and Donnesha Cooper,[20] was a seventh-grader at E Prep & Village Prep Woodland Hills. This page was last edited on 24 April 2023, at 03:36. The captain William "Whip" Whitaker of South Jet Air is a divorced man with an estranged ex-wife and son and is having an affair with the flight attendant Katerina "Trina" Marquez. Imagine two people in your family who you love most. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The filmmakers brought in real pilots and experts to discuss the technicalities of the situation, hoping to keep things as realistic as possible. Despite its fictional nature, it tries to stay as close to the truth as possible and succeeds, for the most part. Share Raeanna Woodys crimes hardly seemed like they would add up to a life sentence in prison. [9], The boxcutter was used to slash DeFreeze's neck, while the drill had been used to put four puncture wounds into her cheek and a wound on her forehead that dislodged her right eyeball from the socket. [15] Whitaker is currently on death row. But Whip is an alcoholic and struggles to control his addiction. Still trying to rouse himself from his hangover, his phone rings, and he answers a call from his ex-wife Deana (Garcelle Beauvais). [40] The law requires schools to call parents within 120 minutes of the start of the school day if their child is absent without the parents having previously notified the school. Gavin Newsom, statement explaining his reasoning for granting clemency, the last time the board recommended clemency. A jury found Councilman Mark Whitaker guilty of three felony forgery counts Wednesday, finding that he repeatedly falsified the signature of a contractor on financial documents. Whip Whitaker, too, is a fictional pilot. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Ramaswamy says he wont let Trump dodge debates, GOP presidential contenders knock DeSantis over Disney, Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. She was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday. Alcoholic pilot Whip Whittaker (Denzel Washington) does a miraculous job crash-landing a plane that has suffered a severe mechanical breakdown in midair, however the mandated investigation into the incident will inevitably lead to the discovery that he was flying the plane while drunk and on cocaine. Jack the Ripper mutilated and disemboweled his victims, all five of his victims were females, and on top of that, they were all prostitutes. Whitaker is set for lethal injection Thursday, Feb. 22, for masterminding the fatal shootings of his mother and brother at their suburban Houston home in 2003. The two latest charges filed against Murdaugh come from his 2020 and 2021 tax returns, which prosecutors say show Murdaugh did not pay more than $130,000 in taxes that he was supposed to over the two years. In Florida, police charged Eric Pierson on Saturday with first-degree murder for the death of Erika Verdecia. I'm not a monster, he told investigators, adding that he was just an addict who made a mistake that shouldn't have happened." Because many of the wounds showed signs that they had started healing, they were inflicted on her several hours before she died. "[21] The lawsuit also claims that the City of Cleveland and city employees failed to monitor abandoned properties and prevent illicit activities from occurring in them and names the owner of the house where the murder occurred, saying that he failed to maintain, operate and monitor it. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Mr. Whitakers father insists that he would be victimized again if the state put to death his last remaining immediate family member, he said in his proclamation. "He's going to pay this time. He was flying from Frankfurt, Germany to New York City and sparked a conversation with the man sitting next to him.