Devon Whaley had served years in prison and faced more recent domestic violence allegations before authorities charged him with first-degree murder.
FRANKLINTON, N.C. — The criminal history of a man charged with killing Rasheka Crudup is drawing renewed scrutiny after court records showed years of arrests, a previous violent felony conviction and more recent domestic violence cases before the Franklin County killing.
Devon Whaley, 35, is charged with first-degree murder in Crudup’s Oct. 12 death at a home on Lane Store Road in the Franklinton area. Franklin County Sheriff Kevin White has publicly criticized Whaley’s repeated encounters with the justice system, while Whaley’s mother has said she had long been concerned that his violent behavior could eventually end with someone being killed.
Arrest warrants accuse Whaley of killing Crudup and breaking into her home with the intent to terrorize and injure her. Authorities have not publicly provided a full account of what happened inside the home or disclosed a motive. Whaley has not been convicted of the new charges and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
White said Whaley had been arrested repeatedly over the years and had faced allegations involving assault, kidnapping, drugs and attempted murder. Court records show that a case stemming from a 2016 violent incident ultimately led Whaley to plead guilty in 2017 to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. He later spent years in prison and was released in 2024.
Whaley’s legal problems did not end after his release. Records cited by local news organizations show he faced domestic violence and assault allegations in January 2026 involving a different woman. WRAL reported that he was found guilty in May and received a 60-day jail sentence. Some other charges filed against Whaley over the years were dismissed, according to the station’s review of his North Carolina court history.
The history has prompted unusually sharp criticism from White, who argued publicly that the justice system had repeated opportunities to hold Whaley accountable before Crudup’s death. Those comments express the sheriff’s assessment of earlier cases and their outcomes; they do not establish that any particular past court decision caused the killing.
Whaley’s mother, Yolanda Whaley, also told WRAL that she had seen warning signs in her son for years and had sometimes contacted police herself. After his arrest in Crudup’s death, she said she would not defend him and expressed anguish for Crudup’s children and parents. Her comments add a family perspective to the questions now being raised about Whaley’s earlier conduct and contacts with authorities.
Crudup was a mother of two who cared for infants at Kiddie Academy of Wake Forest. Her family described her as loving, ambitious and deeply devoted to her children. Her mother, Jessica Crudup, said Whaley and her daughter had been in a relationship and that she had not expected the violence that authorities now allege occurred.
A second defendant, 33-year-old Tyrone Crudup, faces an accessory-after-the-fact charge. Prosecutors allege he knew Whaley had committed a felony and later tried to assist him by cleaning Whaley’s vehicle and disposing of clothing connected with the crime. Those allegations also remain to be resolved in court.
Whaley is being held without bond. He and Tyrone Crudup are scheduled for court appearances Oct. 22. Investigators have not publicly released a complete account of Crudup’s death, and the criminal cases will determine whether prosecutors can prove the allegations against the two defendants.
Author note: Last updated October 16, 2026.