Murder charge dropped; Whiddon gets 30 years

Posted on June 14, 2017

Circuit Judge David Fina sentenced 50-year-old Rodney D. Whiddon to 30 years in prison Tuesday for his role in the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of longtime educator Shelly Strickland, adding, “I wish I could give you more.”

He also imposed a $10,000 fine against the defendant.

The action came just a few hours after one of the state’s primary witnesses–Whiddon’s son, Manden–recanted his previous testimony regarding both his and his father’s involvement in Strickland’s June 2015 murder.

Photo: Rodney D. Whiddon, left, and attorney James Janousek III

 

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