BROOKLYN, NY – Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez has announced a maximum sentencing of 25 years to life for Derek Whitaker, a 58-year-old Bedford Stuyvesant resident.
Whitaker was found guilty of the brutal murder of Jonathan Blake, 55, of Mount Vernon, followed by the attempted concealment of his crime by setting the victim’s body on fire.
District Attorney Gonzalez emphasized the gravity of Whitaker’s actions: “The sheer depravity of the defendant’s actions is beyond comprehension.
Taking an innocent man’s life over a romantic dispute then attempting to destroy his remains is horrifying. While we can’t bring back Mr. Blake, this sentence seeks to bring a semblance of justice and closure to his grieving family.”
The murder was premeditated in the early hours of March 13, 2020, on North Broadway in Yonkers. Whitaker had ambushed Blake, shooting him dead. He later transported Blake’s body to the basement of an apartment building at 494 Jefferson Avenue in Bedford Stuyvesant, where he was employed as a superintendent and where his mother resided.
Whitaker’s cruel intentions were further exposed on March 16, 2020, when he attempted to burn the victim’s body using gasoline. However, an alert resident of the building sensed the smoke and, upon investigating, found Whitaker in the act, with Blake’s legs visibly protruding from a metal barrel. The immediate involvement of the building’s management, NYPD, and NYFD led to Whitaker’s swift arrest.
The investigation unraveled a tale of jealousy, revealing that the two men were involved in a love triangle, with Whitaker stalking Blake for months before the heinous act.
Whitaker had, between the time of the murder and the attempt to destroy the evidence, attended a church service in Westchester County, where Blake and his family were members.
In a move that added insult to injury, Whitaker occupied Blake’s usual seat and even embraced Blake’s brother.