Alianna DeFreeze was a 14-year-old girl from Cleveland, Ohio, who had a bright future ahead of her. She was a seventh-grader at E Prep & Village Prep Woodland Hills, a school that focused on preparing students for college. She had a developmental disability, but that did not stop her from being a loving and caring daughter, sister, and friend. She enjoyed reading, dancing, and singing. She had a smile that could light up a room.
But on January 26, 2017, her life was cut short by a vicious predator who kidnapped, raped, tortured, and killed her in an abandoned house. Her body was found three days later, after a city-wide search. Her killer was Christopher Whitaker, a registered sex offender with a long history of violence and drug abuse. He was convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to death in 2018.
This article will explore the tragic details of Alianna DeFreeze’s death, the investigation and trial that followed, and the legacy that she left behind.
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The Disappearance of Alianna DeFreeze
On the morning of January 26, 2017, Alianna DeFreeze woke up early and got ready for school. She wore her purple uniform shirt and black pants. She kissed her mother goodbye and left their home on Fuller Avenue around 6:45 a.m. She walked to the nearby RTA bus stop on East 93rd Street and Kinsman Road, where she usually caught the bus to school.
But that day, she never made it to school. She never got off the bus at East 105th Street and St. Clair Avenue, where she would transfer to another bus. She never checked in with the school office or attended any of her classes.
Her mother, Donnesha Cooper, did not know that her daughter was missing until later that afternoon, when she received a call from the school around 4:15 p.m. The school had failed to notify her earlier that Alianna was absent, as required by their policy.
Cooper immediately called the police and reported her daughter missing. She also contacted her father, Damon DeFreeze, who lived in another part of the city. He rushed to join her and they began to search for their daughter.
They retraced her route to school, talked to bus drivers and passengers, handed out flyers with her picture, and posted on social media. They hoped that someone had seen her or knew where she was.
But no one had any clue about what had happened to Alianna DeFreeze.
The Discovery of Alianna DeFreeze’s Body
On January 29, 2017, three days after Alianna DeFreeze disappeared, the police received a tip from an anonymous caller. The caller said that he had seen a man carrying a black garbage bag into an abandoned house on Fuller Avenue, near where Alianna lived.
The police went to check out the house, which was boarded up and had no electricity or water. They forced their way inside and searched the rooms.
In the basement, they made a horrifying discovery. They found the body of Alianna DeFreeze wrapped in a black garbage bag. She was lying on a dirty mattress covered with bloodstains.
She had been brutally beaten and stabbed multiple times with various tools, including a hammer, a screwdriver, a nut driver, a box cutter, and a drill. She had also been raped and strangled.
She was wearing the same clothes that she had left home in. Her purple shirt was torn and stained with blood. Her black pants were pulled down to her ankles.
She had been dead for several days.
The police notified her parents of the tragic news. They were devastated and heartbroken.
They could not believe that someone had done such a horrible thing to their daughter.
The Arrest and Trial of Christopher Whitaker
The police quickly identified the suspect as Christopher Whitaker, a 44-year-old man who lived in South Euclid, Ohio. He was a registered sex offender who had a long criminal record involving grand theft, burglary, aggravated robbery, felonious assault, and sexual assault.
He had been released from prison in 2015 after serving 12 years for sexually assaulting and stabbing a woman in his home in 2005.
He had also been arrested several times for drug possession and use.
The police tracked him down using DNA evidence that matched his profile in the national database. They also found his fingerprints on some of the tools used to kill Alianna DeFreeze.
They arrested him on February 2, 2017 at his apartment. He confessed to kidnapping, raping, torturing, and killing Alianna DeFreeze after he saw her at the bus stop on January 26.
He said that he was high on cocaine and blacked out. He did not remember much of what he did to her. He said that he did not know her or have any motive for killing her.
He said that he was sorry and asked for forgiveness.
He was charged with aggravated murder and 10 other counts, including kidnapping, rape, and tampering with evidence.
His trial began on February 5, 2018 in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. The prosecution presented the evidence and the testimony of the police, the medical examiner, and the witnesses who saw him near the crime scene.
They argued that Whitaker was a cold-blooded killer who preyed on a vulnerable and innocent girl. They said that he knew what he was doing and acted with deliberate intent.
The defense did not dispute the facts of the case, but tried to portray Whitaker as a mentally ill and drug-addicted man who could not control his impulses or obey the law. They said that he suffered from bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse disorder.
They said that he had a troubled childhood and a history of abuse and neglect. They said that he was remorseful and regretful for his actions.
They asked the jury to spare his life and sentence him to life in prison without parole.
The jury deliberated for less than two hours before reaching a verdict. They found Whitaker guilty on all counts.
They also recommended that he receive the death penalty for his crimes.
The judge agreed with the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Whitaker to death on March 27, 2018.
He is currently on death row at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution, awaiting his execution date.
The Legacy of Alianna DeFreeze
The murder of Alianna DeFreeze shocked and saddened the entire community. She was remembered as a sweet and smart girl who loved to learn and had big dreams for her future.
She was buried at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, where hundreds of people attended her funeral service. Her parents and siblings spoke of their love for her and their grief over losing her.
They also spoke of their hope for justice and their faith in God.
They also vowed to honor her memory by creating positive change in her name.
They founded the Alianna DeFreeze Let’s Make a Change Foundation, a nonprofit organization that aims to improve school safety, prevent child abduction, and support families of missing children.
They also advocated for the passage of Alianna’s Alert, a law that requires schools to notify parents of unexcused absences within two hours. The law was signed by Governor John Kasich in 2019 and went into effect in 2020.
They also filed a lawsuit against several people and entities, including the school district, the bus company, the city of Cleveland, and the owner of the abandoned house where Alianna DeFreeze was killed. They argued that their negligence and failure to protect Alianna DeFreeze contributed to her death.
They reached a $1 million settlement with some of the defendants in 2022.
They also received support from various organizations and individuals who donated money, goods, and services to help them cope with their loss and pursue their mission.
They also received recognition from various awards and honors, including the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award in 2018.
They continue to keep Alianna DeFreeze’s spirit alive by celebrating her birthday, visiting her grave, and sharing her story with others.
They hope that by doing so, they can prevent other children from suffering the same fate as their daughter.
They hope that by doing so, they can make a difference in the world.
