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DeFreeze jury: Convicted killer Christopher Whitaker should get death penalty

Posted at 11:15 AM, Feb 23, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-23 13:49:31-05

The jury has reached a decision in the penalty phase of Christopher Whitaker—the man convicted of raping and killing 14-year-old Alianna DeFreeze in 2017.

After three days of deliberating, the jury has recommended the death penalty. The decision among all 12 jurors was unanimous. 

Judge Carolyn Friedland will decide whether to accept the jury's recommendation for the death penalty on March 5.

Whitaker was found guilty of aggravated murder, along with charges of rape, kidnapping, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence and offenses against a human corpse.

Speaking to the court on Thursday, Whitaker addressed the court for the first time, expressing remorse and regret for his actions.

RELATED: Convicted killer of Alianna DeFreeze takesstand: 'If I could go back...I would change everything'

RELATED: Opening arguments heard in trial for man accused of raping, murdering 14-year-old Alianna DeFreeze

RELATED: Leon Bibb commentary on the murder of Alianna DeFreeze and what Clevelanders must do to fight crime

"From the beginning, I have accepted full responsibly for my actions," Whitaker said. "I assisted the detective as to where to find my clothes and boots I was wearing that day. I never wanted this to happen and ever since that day, I've felt regret and remorse."

Although he confessed to the brutal killing of Alianna, Whitaker claimed he was high on crack cocaine at the time of the incident.

Alianna was abducted while on her way to school on Jan. 26, 2017. Her body was found in an abandoned home. Whitaker was found guilty on all counts, including murder, rape, kidnapping, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence and offenses against a human corpse.

Her disappearance ignited a city-wide search and started a dialogue about the city's blight problem. Since her death, lawmakers, her family and the City of Cleveland have worked to make sure something like this doesn't happen again.

During the few crucial hours of her disappearance, her family wasn't notified that she didn't make it to school. Senator Williams, of Cleveland, is behind Senate Bill 82, or the "Alianna Alert" bill — mandating all schools notify parents if their child doesn't show up. 

But it's been nearly a year since her bill was introduced and Senator Williams said there has been some pushback.  Williams said she is working on an amended bill that will give schools 90 minutes to call parents if there children didn't show up to school.