Angel Whitaker, 37, moved to Bluefield for a promised position before vanishing in April

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — A 37-year-old mother of three from Virginia was allegedly killed by a man she was romantically involved with after he lured her across state lines with a job offer, according to authorities.

Angel Whitaker left her home in Bristol, Virginia, in January 2026 after Donald Ray Pennington, 59, allegedly offered her an assistant manager position at an O’Reilly Auto Parts store in Bluefield, West Virginia. The pair had known each other since 2018, when they worked together at an auto shop and began a romantic relationship.

Whitaker moved in with Pennington after relocating. However, the relationship reportedly became strained. She was last seen on April 17, 2026, when she allegedly arrived at work intoxicated. Pennington told police he drove her home, but she was gone when he returned later that day.

Her family lost contact with her in April, and on May 4, her sister Angela reported her missing. Pennington was arrested on May 13 and charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a dead body. He has pleaded not guilty.

According to a criminal complaint, Pennington’s ex-girlfriend told investigators he confessed to choking Whitaker during an argument until she stopped breathing. He allegedly showed the ex-girlfriend a photo of the body, disposed of Whitaker’s phones by soaking them in bleach, and later buried her remains with the help of the ex-girlfriend, who led police to the location in Bastian, Virginia.

Whitaker leaves behind three children: 18-year-old son Braiden, 17-year-old daughter Daizy, and 12-year-old son Christopher.

Pennington is being held at the West Virginia Regional Jail & Correctional Facility Authority as the investigation continues.