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News Release
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Cayla_Wilson_-_Photo_2_provided_by_the_Wilson_family.png
Jack Dean Whiteaker receives 16 year prison sentence for causing the death of Cayla Wilson (Photo) - 12/06/19

December 6, 2019

Jack Dean Whiteaker receives 16 year prison sentence for causing the death of Cayla Wilson

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that 62-year-old Jack Dean Whiteaker received a 16 year prison sentence for recklessly causing the death of Cayla Wilson while manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms. Wilson’s mother, Denise, said: “My beautiful, sweet and funny girl had her whole life in front of her. She wanted to be successful in life for herself and her child. Cayla was a beautiful soul, so kind and caring and hardworking. She was someone special. She had a heart of gold. … She was loved by so many people.”

Ms. Wilson’s father, Bill, told the court: “We’re trying to figure out how to live again. [Cayla] kept us alive. She always kept the whole family motivated.”

This investigation started at 2:46 p.m. on April 15, 2010 when officers with the Gresham Police Department responded to reports of an injury crash along Southeast Jenne Road near Southeast Jenne Lane. Investigators with the East Multnomah County Vehicular Crash Team determined Whiteaker was traveling southbound into a curve on Southeast Jenne Road at an excessive rate of speed.

Whiteaker lost control of his vehicle, went into a sideways slide, regained traction and drove over the top of Ms. Wilson’s 1990 Buick sedan.

Ms. Wilson, who was 19 years old at the time of the crash, was lawfully traveling northbound in her lane. Ms. Wilson was driving home from a job interview when Whiteaker’s vehicle tore open and crushed the driver’s side of Ms. Wilson’s vehicle. She sustained critical injuries.

Whiteaker was prosecuted and convicted for what was then the assault of Ms. Wilson. The verdict was returned in 2012.

Ms. Wilson died on March 30, 2018 at the age of 27 as a result of the injuries she sustained. At the time of the crash, she was pregnant.

Doctors delivered her baby by emergency caesarean section five weeks later.

Her daughter is now nine years old. 

The court convicted Whiteaker on October 31, 2019 of one count of manslaughter in the first degree after he changed his plea.

Upon release, Whiteaker will be on three years of post-prison supervision. His driving privileges will be revoked for life.

“Mr. Whiteaker took away a very valuable member of our community,” Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney David Hannon said during today’s sentencing hearing. “His actions are another reminder of the death and destruction that drugs and alcohol can take from our community.”

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office recognizes the Gresham Police Department, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, members of the East Multnomah County Vehicular Crash Team including retired Gresham Police Officers Jeffrey Durbin and David Snider for their dedicated efforts investigating this case.

The District Attorney’s Office also recognizes retired Chief Deputy District Attorney Chuck Sparks who prosecuted Whiteaker in 2010 and retired Lead Victim Advocate Kimberly Phillips-Clark and current Victim Advocate Malia Bruni for the advocacy and support they provided Ms. Wilson’s family throughout the criminal justice process. 

This case was prosecuted by Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney David Hannon and Deputy District Attorney Adrienne Anderson.

With the permission of the Wilson family, the District Attorney’s Office is providing media with two photos of Ms. Wilson.

 

View more news releases from Multnomah Co. District Attorney's Office.