SMYTH COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) – A man has been sentenced in Smyth County Circuit Court for killing a woman in 2021.
Jason Emory Whittaker, 40, was sentenced to life in prison plus 90 years after being convicted by a jury in July.
Whittaker was found guilty for the abduction and murder of Teresa Lynn Greer, 54, the arson of a Marion home, and animal cruelty.
During the trial, evidence revealed Whittaker abducted Greer inside a Marion home and “brutally bludgeoned her with a weapon, as well as strangled her, resulting in her death,” according to the Smyth County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Whittaker set fire to the home to cover his tracks, resulting in the total loss of the structure and killing of Teresa’s pet dog, according to investigators.
“Today, justice was delivered for Teresa Greer and her loved ones. While the court’s lengthy sentence ensures that Whittaker will be held accountable for the bone-chilling crimes he committed, it can never truly make up for the loss of Teresa’s life. This has been a long and painful journey for Teresa’s loved ones, the Town of Marion, and Smyth County. As I reflect on today’s sentence, I am reassured that my office’s work is about more than holding criminals accountable – it’s about honoring the lives affected, the lives lost, and the legacies that endure in the face of unspeakable tragedy,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Phillip Blevins.
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