KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE FEB. 20: The man charged with murdering a 76-year-old North Knoxvillian left his restaurant job the night of the killing with a large kitchen knife, declaring he was about to hurt someone, warrants state.
Concerned about Joe B. Whitaker's statement, a manager at Cafe 4 on Market Square alerted Knoxville police that someone might be in danger at the victim's Bellevue Street home. An officer went to the home to check but couldn't locate anyone there and left, records state.
Whitaker, 57, who has a lengthy arrest record dating back more than 20 years for charges that include assault, theft and traffic violations, is being held in the county detention center pending a hearing Tuesday in Knox County General Sessions Court.
He's accused of murdering Julius Parker in his Bellevue home, raping a woman who was in the home, holding her hostage and stealing the homicide victim's car.
Whitaker is believed to have killed Parker on Feb. 12 after leaving work with the knife, warrants state. Parker's body wasn't found, however, until his nephew went to the house Feb. 17 when he became concerned that he hadn't heard from Parker.
When he got to the house, he found Whitaker and the rape victim inside.
He noticed blood on the floor, including a trail that led down to the basement. In the basement he found his uncle's body covered with a blanket.
He then alerted KPD.
Whitaker admitted to police he'd killed Parker with the knife from work because of a dispute over money, warrants state. He claimed Parker also had made "inappropriate sexual advances" toward the woman.
The woman told police during questioning that she'd seen Whitaker stab Parker repeatedly after breaking into Parker's basement.
She said Whitaker dragged Parker's body to the basement and covered it. She said he held her hostage at gunpoint for several days in the home, raping her repeatedly, warrants state.
After the killing, Whitaker drove off with Parker's 1995 Chevrolet, parking it near Knox Area Rescue Ministries with the key in the ignition, hoping someone would steal it.
The alleged rape victim told police that Whitaker told her he'd planned to kill Parker several days before the actual murder.
PREVIOUS STORY: A man is charged with first-degree murder plus additional charges after Knoxville Police Department officers responded to a welfare check early Friday morning, according to KPD.
Joe Whitaker, 57, was charged with first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, rape and other charges, KPD said.
Officers arrived at a home on Bellevue Street Friday where they found the body of 76-year-old Julius Parker, KPD said.
Two other individuals, including Whitaker, were found inside the house and were detained for investigation, KPD said.
After further investigation, it was revealed that Whitaker had stabbed and killed Parker on Feb. 12. It also uncovered that he had victimized the second individual, an adult woman, who was found in the home, KPD said.
According to officials, Whitaker and the two victims were known to one another.
Whitaker was booked into the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility. His bond is not yet set, KPD said.
