Death sentence affirmed for man who kidnapped, raped, and killed girl with a power drill

CLEVELAND (TCD) -- The death sentence has been affirmed for a 49-year-old man who was convicted of kidnapping, raping, torturing, and murdering a then-14-year-old girl with a power drill and other tools in 2017.

According to an announcement from the Supreme Court of Ohio, the court "unanimously upheld two of three capital convictions of Christopher Whitaker based on the 2017 rape and kidnapping of the girl prior to killing her."

Whitaker kidnapped seventh-grade student Alianna DeFreeze from her school bus stop in January 2017, WJW-TV reports. The court said Whitaker then brought the victim to a vacant home before inflicting the "horrific crimes that support the imposition of the death penalty."

Surveillance video reportedly revealed Whitaker walking across a vacant lot toward Fuller Avenue, and three days later, DeFreeze’s body was found inside a home on the same street.

Authorities recovered bloody work tools and a bloody footprint and were able to perform DNA testing, the court said. The testing identified Whitaker as a suspect.

Whitaker, a registered sex offender, was caught when a tip led cops to a house where he was reportedly living. Whitaker eventually admitted to killing the girl, explaining that it was an accident, according to court documents.

Whitaker was arrested and initially charged with aggravated murder, rape, kidnapping, aggravated burglary and abusing a corpse. He pleaded not guilty.

While awaiting trial, the court said Whitaker was monitored during jail phone calls and was heard asking a woman to help him create an alibi.

On March 26, 2018, Whitaker was sentenced to death.

MORE:

• Death Penalty Affirmed for Cleveland Man Who Killed Teen on Her Way to School - Supreme Court of Ohio
• Death sentence upheld for Alianna DeFreeze killer - WJW
• Alianna DeFreeze attacker convicted of kidnapping, rape, murder, 2/21/2018