A Virginia mother who moved to West Virginia for what she believed was a fresh start is now at the center of a homicide case after investigators accused a man she had been romantically involved with of killing her and hiding her body.
Angel Whitaker, a 37-year-old mother of three from Bristol, Virginia, disappeared earlier this year after relocating to Bluefield, West Virginia, according to a criminal complaint obtained by WVNSTV.
Authorities said Whitaker moved in January 2026 after Donald Pennington, 59, allegedly offered her a job as an assistant manager at an O’Reilly Auto Parts store in Bluefield.
The two reportedly met years earlier while working at an auto shop in Bristol and later became involved in a romantic relationship.
Investigators said Whitaker eventually moved in with Pennington after arriving in West Virginia, but the relationship later deteriorated.
Family members told police they lost contact with Whitaker in April. Her sister, Angela, officially reported her missing on May 4.
According to investigators, Whitaker had recently been trying to distance herself from Pennington and had checked into a hotel in Princeton before she vanished.
Whitaker was last seen on April 17. Pennington allegedly told investigators she arrived at work intoxicated that day and claimed he drove her home before returning to work. He later said she was gone when he came back.
The investigation took a dramatic turn days later when Pennington’s former girlfriend met with police on May 12.
“You’re not going to find her, he murdered her,” the woman allegedly told investigators.
According to the complaint, the ex-girlfriend said Pennington described an argument involving Whitaker and a family member before claiming Whitaker threatened him.
She told investigators Pennington admitted he “snapped” during the confrontation.
The woman alleged Pennington grabbed Whitaker by the throat and choked her until she stopped breathing.
Investigators said the ex-girlfriend also claimed Pennington showed her a photo of Whitaker’s body that had been taken from the victim’s phone.
Authorities further alleged Pennington destroyed Whitaker’s phones by soaking them in bleach and damaging the SIM cards.
The ex-girlfriend also told investigators she accompanied Pennington to a Lowe’s store in Bluefield, Virginia, where he bought several bags of concrete.
The pair then allegedly traveled to Bastian, Virginia, where Pennington was accused of burying Whitaker’s body.
Investigators searched the area with cadaver dogs from the Virginia State Police, but no remains were found.
Police said the ex-girlfriend later turned over her phone and admitted to deleting messages from Pennington connected to the alleged killing.
Pennington was arrested on May 13 and remains jailed at the West Virginia Regional Jail & Correctional Facility Authority.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a body.
Whitaker leaves behind three children: 18-year-old Braiden, 17-year-old Daizy, and 12-year-old Christopher.
