A West Virginia man has been charged with murder and body concealment after allegedly killing a woman he had promised a job in a new city.
The Victim and Suspect
Donald Pennington, 59, is accused of killing Angel Whitaker, 59, of Bristol, Virginia. Records show he is being held at the Southern Regional Jail in Raleigh County.
Whitaker had moved about 100 miles north to Bluefield, West Virginia, to take a job offered by Pennington. The two were reportedly in a romantic relationship that had deteriorated by April.
Alleged Crime
Investigators say Pennington killed Whitaker on April 17 after an argument. He allegedly picked her up by the throat and suffocated her, then dumped her body in a wooded area near Bastian, Virginia, about 18 miles from Bluefield. Evidence includes Facebook messages, surveillance footage, and witness statements.
Investigation and Family Response
Whitaker’s family reportedly did not know she moved to West Virginia. Her eldest son set up a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses. Pennington was booked into jail on May 13. Authorities are conducting an autopsy, and his court date has not been annou
