A registered Ohio sex offender accused of killing and raping a teen girl, served only four years on a previous rape and stabbing charge. The community is outraged, as the tragedy could have been prevented had the convicted rapist stayed behind bars.
Cleveland.com reports that Christopher Whitaker, 44, a rapist who was set free after spending less than a handful of years in an Ohio prison, was back in court on Thursday. He’s facing numerous felony charges, stemming from the 2016 rape and murder of 14-year-old Alianna DeFreeze.
Judge denies bond for man accused of killing Cleveland teen Alianna DeFreeze https://t.co/I2c9LHXO1T pic.twitter.com/HsFlVsdnBR
— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) February 16, 2017
The young girl was switching buses for school on January 26, when she disappeared in the Cincinnati area. When Alianna didn’t arrive at school, her mother phoned the police. Her body was found three days later, on January 29, off of Fuller Street.
On February 2, police arrested Whitaker after a medical examiner found DNA on the victim’s body and at the crime scene that matched the suspect.
The sex offender is now behind bars with no bond. He’s charged with “aggravated murder, rape, kidnapping, aggravated burglary, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.”
Alianna DeFreeze's family creates foundation in her honor, plans to tear down house where police found her body @cleveland19news pic.twitter.com/AWWCWiXBQN
— Shanice Settle (@ShaniceDunning) February 15, 2017
So far, it’s unclear how Whitaker reportedly killed the young girl. Cincinnati police remain tight-lipped on the situation. The affidavit filed at the Cleveland Municipal Court lists Whitaker as the prime suspect,but doesn’t give additional details.
Earlier, police released a public statement indicating that Whitaker kidnapped Aliana at East 93rd Street and Carton Avenue. He then allegedly took her took a nearby vacant house, where he beat her and raped her. Later, he reportedly “abused the corpse.”
According to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, Alliana died from “multiple injuries,” but didn’t it give additional details.
If convicted, Whitaker faces the death penalty.
[Feature Photo: Facebook/Cincinnati PD]