Fourth defendant in Ringgold student鈥檚 murder pleads guilty to lesser charge
The fourth defendant charged in the murder of a Ringgold High School senior in South Franklin more than two years ago pleaded guilty to a lesser charge Tuesday after he cooperated with prosecutors in the case.
Shackled and wearing an orange jail suit, Karon Whitlock appeared in the Washington County Courthouse and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit homicide in the April 13, 2024, shooting that killed 18-year-old Annalaya Wilkerson of Monongahela.
Whitlock, 23, of Washington, was immediately sentenced by President Judge Valarie Costanzo to serve 3 陆 to 7 years in a state prison as part of the plea deal with prosecutors. Whitlock did not give a statement before sentencing.
Several family members of Wilkerson sat in the courtroom gallery, but they did not give victim impact statements as they had during a previous plea and sentencing for three other defendants.
Wilkerson and her teenage friend, Chelsie Estock of Elizabeth, were riding with Whitlock and another man, Windale Barfield Jr., in the area when Barfield eventually drove the group to Jolly School Road in South Franklin. While there, Barfield fired multiple shots at the teenagers while they were standing outside the vehicle, killing Wilkerson and wounding Estock in the abdomen, leaving her with serious injuries that have required multiple surgeries.
Barfield Jr., 21, of Washington, pleaded guilty to felony charges of third-degree murder and conspiracy to commit homicide in January and was sentenced to serve 22 to 44 years in a state prison. His 19-year-old brother, Anthony Barfield, also pleaded guilty in January to one felony count of conspiracy to commit homicide by planning with his brother and then setting up the meeting between the shooter and victims. He was sentenced to serve 15 to 30 years in prison as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.
A third accomplice, 27-year-old Jeheili Yonshay Cochran of Pittsburgh, pleaded no contest to evidence tampering after she disposed of the gun used in the shooting and helped Windale Barfield leave the state. She was sentenced to 12 months probation as part of her plea deal.
All three were prepared to go to trial in January before taking the pleas at the last minute. Whitlock cooperated with investigators and was prepared to testify against his co-defendants at trial.
Whitlock has been jailed without bond since his arrest in two weeks after Wilkerson鈥檚 murder, so he will be given credit for time served.