Devon Whaley is accused of killing Rasheka Crudup at her Franklinton-area home, while a second person faces an accessory charge.
FRANKLINTON, NC — A 35-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Rasheka Crudup, a mother of two who worked caring for infants at a Wake Forest child care center, according to court records and local authorities.
Devon Whaley was arrested Oct. 12, the same day authorities say Crudup was killed at a home on Lane Store Road in Franklin County. Arrest warrants accuse Whaley of killing Crudup and breaking into her home with the intent to terrorize and injure her. Authorities have not publicly released a detailed account of how Crudup died, and the circumstances leading up to her death remain under investigation.
A second person, 33-year-old Tyrone Crudup, has been charged with accessory after the fact. Prosecutors allege he knew Whaley had committed a felony and later tried to help him avoid authorities and destroy evidence. Court records cited by ABC11 allege that assistance included cleaning Whaley’s vehicle and disposing of clothing connected to the crime. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Crudup’s mother, Jessica Crudup, said her daughter and Whaley had been in a relationship. She told ABC11 that she had not seen signs suggesting the relationship would end in deadly violence. Family members described Crudup as a caring woman devoted to her children and her work. Her cousin, Timothy Green, said she was ambitious and loved her children deeply.
Crudup worked with infants at Kiddie Academy of Wake Forest. The child care center paid tribute to her after her death, describing the loss as profound and remembering her ability to comfort babies and anxious parents. Franklin County Sheriff Kevin White also described Crudup as a mother, caregiver, teacher and cherished friend in the community.
Whaley had previously served prison time after a violent 2016 case involving another woman. Court records show he pleaded guilty in 2017 to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. He was released from prison in 2024. In the 2016 case, authorities said a woman was shot during a domestic dispute and Whaley left with their 1-year-old daughter, prompting an Amber Alert. The child was later found safe.
White has publicly criticized how Whaley’s earlier cases were handled and pointed to his lengthy arrest history after the latest killing. Some of those prior accusations did not result in convictions, making a distinction between arrests, dismissed charges and convictions important. Whaley is entitled to a presumption of innocence on the new charges unless he is convicted in court.
Whaley was being held without bond after his arrest. Authorities have not announced a motive in Crudup’s killing or released additional evidence describing the events inside the Lane Store Road home. Investigators also have not publicly detailed what relationship, if any, Tyrone Crudup had to the victim beyond the allegations contained in the court records.
Whaley and Tyrone Crudup are scheduled to appear in court Oct. 22. The murder and accessory cases remain pending as investigators and prosecutors continue developing the evidence surrounding Crudup’s death.
Author note: Last updated October 16, 2026.