The Supreme Court of Ohio Thursday unanimously upheld the death sentence for Christopher Whitaker, the man convicted of killing 14-year-old Alianna DeFreeze in the winter of 2017. Writing for the Court, Justice Patrick F. Fischer graphically recounted Whitaker's rape, torture, and murder of the Cleveland teen, which Whitaker himself admitted to shortly after his arrest. The opinion found that while Whitaker does suffer from mental health problems, he was still in control of his actions at the time of his crimes. Whitaker's claims of "insufficient evidence" were also dismissed: "Whitaker presented substantial mitigating evidence that is entitled to considerable weight. That said, Whitaker raped and murdered 14-year-old [Alianna] in a vacant house. He then fled the scene and was arrested only after DNA evidence identified him as the perpetrator. Under these circumstances, we conclude that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating factors beyond a reasonable doubt." Source: wkyc

A Wisconsin man is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and setting their home on fire just 10 days after a judge let him remain out on bond until his sentencing for child sexual abuse. Milwaukee Police are now searching for Ernest Terrell Blakney, 47, who has been on the run since allegedly shooting his ex, Nikia Rogers, in the head and setting her body on fire on Aug. 25. Blakney pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl on August 15, and prosecutor Sam Tufford requested that the judge immediately remand Blakney into custody ahead of an October sentencing hearing, where prosecutors planned to recommend a sentence of six to eight years, according to WISN. However, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge David Borowski opted to let Blakney remain out on the same $5,000 bail — originally set in October 2021 — to let him get his affairs “wrapped up” before prison.

The man accused in the stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend when they were both teenagers was sentenced Thursday after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the killing. A Durham County judge sentenced Kelton Breshon Fox to serve a sentence of 12 to 15 years for the slaying of Tierra Hall in April 2015. Her body was found behind an empty home on Trotter Ridge Road.

Investigators linked Fox to the case after police found the words “King K tha Savage” scrawled on a door of the house, which had been previously lived in by Fox's mother. Investigators also used security video from Jordan High School, which captured Hall and Fox the day she was last seen. Both students left school grounds at 12:25 p.m. and were seen walking to Garrett Road. Fox was seen on video returning to campus alone, with his hands pulled into his sleeves. He went immediately to the bathroom and never returned to class, investigators said.

A Rhode Island man is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and storing her body inside a refrigerator, authorities said. Nathan Cooper, 53, of Providence, is charged with domestic murder; possession of a stolen firearm, a Smith & Wesson revolver; and possession of a firearm without a license, The Providence Journal reported. Cooper, who was arraigned in court on Wednesday and did not enter a plea, is being held without bail. He is charged with the death of his former girlfriend, Sherbert “Strawberry” Maddox, 40, of Providence, WJAR-TV reported.

Deputies said the young woman whose body was found near a Hanover road last month is from Hampton. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified the body found off Winns Church Road on Thursday, July 21 as that of 20-year-old Raquiah Paulette King, officials with the Hanover County Sheriff's Office said Friday. A month later, U.S. Navy Lt. Emmanuel Dewayne Coble, 27, has been charged with first-degree murder after the fatal shooting of his pregnant girlfriend, 20-year-old Raquiah Paulette King. On Tuesday, Coble was arraigned at the Hanover General District Court, where he has not entered a plea and is currently being held with no bond, jail records show. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 6.

Metro Police arrested the man accused of stabbing his mother and sister-in-law to death and critically stabbing another sister-in-law on Tuesday. Police say John W. Donaldson, 32, was taken into custody around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday for the domestic-related stabbings which occurred Tuesday. One stabbing happened at an apartment on Elm Hill Pike. The other happened at a home on Hickorydale Drive.

Detectives are currently trying to find a motive behind the deadly stabbings. They were told that Donaldson was recently told to stay away from his mother’s apartment. He was transported from the scene of his arrest to General Hospital for treatment of a hand laceration he apparently received during one of the attacks. Arrest warrants charging Donaldson with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder have been issued.

Tasheka Ranette Young's family and friends are hoping her death will open up the conversation around domestic violence. They identified the popular local radio personality as the 34-year-old killed Saturday in her home at Mission Pointe Apartments on Biscayne Boulevard. Bursey Jerome Armstrong Jr., who friends say is the father of her two young children, is charged with second-degree murder in her death. The arrest report with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office redacts most of the details but lists it as domestic violence involving a handgun.

A teenager has been charged in a death in Sumner early Tuesday morning. Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Administrative Captain Donald Hunter told 27 News a 16-year-old male has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide for a death in Sumner authorities previously said is the result of "foul play." As a result of the charge, Hunter said the sheriff's office investigation is now classified as a homicide investigation rather than a death investigation. Family told 27 News Nicolette Satterfield was the woman shot and killed. The 16-year-old's name is part of the court record, but 27 News is choosing not to name him at this time because of his age. A criminal complaint against the teenager was filed Friday in Jefferson County Circuit Court. Court records show the 16-year-old was given a $1 million bond during his appearance before the judge. Court records show a competency hearing has been scheduled for September 29.

A 20-year-old Milwaukee woman was killed in what appears to have been a shooting sparked by an argument, near Northridge Mall Friday morning, police say. Family identified the woman as Elexis Gridiron. They say her ex-boyfriend shot her. Milwaukee police said in a statement that first responders pronounced Gridiron dead around 9 a.m. near 76th and Brown Deer. With heavy hearts, friends and family gathered outside of the apartment where they say Gridiron was killed. An older cousin on the scene told TMJ4 News Gridiron worked as a certified nursing assistant and stayed to herself.

Law enforcement officials took a man into custody in Miami Beach in connection to the discovery of a body found in an alley. Miami-Dade Special Response Team officers responded to a residence on 69th Street and Byron Avenue where they eventually brought out Ron Adam Donaldson in handcuffs, Tuesday night. Officials said he is responsible for the death of a woman whose body was found in Northwest Miami-Dade. He is currently being held without bond. If you have any information on this murder, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000