A Virginia mother of three, Angel Whitaker, 37, was allegedly lured to her death by a man she had been romantically involved with, authorities say.
Whitaker relocated more than 100 miles from her home in Bristol, Va., to Bluefield, W.Va., in January 2026 after former work associate Donald Pennington, 59, offered her a supposed job as assistant manager at an O’Reilly Auto Parts store.
Circumstances Leading to Disappearance
Whitaker reportedly met Pennington in 2018 at an auto shop in Bristol and began a relationship shortly after. She moved in with him after relocating to West Virginia. By April, her family had lost contact with her, prompting her sister Angela to report her missing on May 4, 2026.
Investigators noted the relationship had become strained, and Whitaker had moved into a Princeton hotel to distance herself from Pennington in the weeks before her disappearance.
She was last seen on April 17, 2026, reportedly arriving at work intoxicated. Pennington claimed he drove her home that day, but when he returned later, Whitaker was gone.
Allegations Against Donald Pennington
According to a criminal complaint:
- Pennington’s ex-girlfriend told investigators that he admitted to killing Whitaker during a heated argument on April 17.
- He allegedly choked Whitaker to death and showed his ex-girlfriend a photo of her body.
- Investigators claim Pennington destroyed Whitaker’s phones by soaking them in bleach and removing the SIM cards.
- Pennington and his ex-girlfriend allegedly drove to Bastian, Va., where he buried Whitaker’s body; however, cadaver dogs failed to locate her remains.
Pennington was arrested on May 13 and is held at the West Virginia Regional Jail & Correctional Facility Authority. He has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and concealment of a body.
Victim and Family
Whitaker leaves behind three children:
- Braiden, 18
- Daizy, 17
- Christopher, 12
Her family has established a GoFundMe to help with funeral and related expenses.
