57-year-old Joe Whitaker, of Knoxville, Tenn., has been charged with first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, rape and other additional charges after Knoxville Police Department officers responded to a welfare check at a home on Bellevue Street early Friday morning.
Officers arrived at the home in the 3100 block of Bellevue Street early on the morning of Friday, February 17, 2023, where they found the body of a deceased man. Two other individuals, including Whitaker, were found inside of the home and detained for further investigation.
Further investigation conducted by the KPD Violent Crimes Unit revealed that Whitaker had stabbed and killed the victim on February 12. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Additional investigation also uncovered that Whitaker had victimized the second individual who was found in the home, an adult woman. Whitaker was charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and rape in connection to those crimes.
Whitaker and the two victims were known to one another.
Whitaker will be booked into the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility shortly. His bond has not yet been set.