Eric Lane was sentenced to death by the State of North Carolina for the murder of five year old Precious Whitfield
According to court documents Eric Lane would sexually assault and murder five year old Precious Whitfield
Eric Lane would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
Eric Lane Photos
Eric Lane Now
| ERIC G LANE | |
| Offender Number: | 0667195 |
| Inmate Status: | INACTIVE |
| Probation/Parole/Post Release Status: | INACTIVE |
| Gender: | MALE |
| Race: | WHITE |
| Ethnic Group: | NOT HISPANIC/LATINO |
| Birth Date: | 06/07/1971 |
| Age: | 52 |
Eric Lane Case
After less than four hours of deliberation, a jury found Eric Lane guilty for the 2002 kidnapping, rape and murder of 5-year-old Precious Whitfield.
Whitfield was last seen playing outside her grandmother’s home. Her body was later found seven miles away in a creek.
Lane was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and a first-degree sex offense in Whitfield’s death. Authorities believe Lane killed Whitfield within a couple of hours of kidnapping her.
“Right now, it’s in God’s hands. I’m going to let him deal with that. I’m just glad he was found guilty for what he had done for my child,” said Michelle Whitfield, Precious’ mother.
Whitfield said she was leaving court to visit her daughter’s grave and to send her a message.
“We love you and we miss you and we did all this for you to make sure you got your justice,” she said. “Can’t nobody hurt her now. She’s safe.”
Lane, who fired his previous attorneys last fall and previously represented himself, told the judge after the verdict that he did not want his attorneys involved during sentencing phase, which is scheduled to begin Monday morning.
Because the jury found Lane guilty of first-degree murder, the same jurors will now have to decide whether to sentence him to life in prison or death.
Last year, Lane’s original trial was delayed because of questions about his mental state. A judge later declared a mistrial because of juror misconduct. The case hit another roadblock in May during the jury selection of Lane’s second trial when the judge granted Lane’s motion to start over with the process.
Precious Whitfield’s family has mixed feelings on Lane’s punishment. Her grandparents believe he should get life in prison, but the child’s mother told WRAL that she wants the death penalty.
Eric Lane Death
A Wayne County man on death row for the murder of a 5-year-old girl in Goldsboro died of natural causes Thursday morning.
In 2005 a jury sentenced Eric Lane to death for the 2002 rape and murder of 5-year-old Precious Whitfield.
State officials said Lane died this morning in Central Prison’s Medical Center in Raleigh.
He was 51 years old
Whitfield was last seen playing outside her grandmother’s home. Her body was later found seven miles away in a creek.
Lane was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and a first-degree sex offense in Whitfield’s death. Authorities believe Lane killed Whitfield within a couple of hours of kidnapping her.
During the 2005 trial, prosecutors presented hair and other DNA evidence they said proved Eric Lane raped and killed the child by stuffing her in a trash bag and throwing it in the river. They described in great detail how she was still alive and fighting back when she was put in the bag.
“It was hard for me to hear that she did fight, the she did try and she is a fighter,” said Michelle Whitfield, the victim’s mother. “It was hard for me to hear that she was still alive at the time and that he did all this stuff to her.”
Lane’s original trial was delayed because of questions about his mental state. A judge later declared a mistrial because of juror misconduct. The case hit another roadblock in May of 2005 during the jury selection of Lane’s second trial when the judge granted Lane’s motion to start over with the process.
In June of 2005, during Lane’s trial, an investigator read a written confession from Lane.
Relatives cried as they listened to details about how Lane says he killed 5-year-old Precious Whitfield and disposed of her body.
Lane’s lawyers said the confession should be thrown out because Lane only made the statement after State Bureau of Investigation agents lied to him.
In its closing statement, the prosecution told the jury that the crime was so atrocious and cruel that Lane deserved to die.
Precious Whitfield’s parents agreed.
“For him to do what he did to her while she was still alive and while she was still trying to fight for her life — and I know she was telling him to stop, I know she was, but for the way he did her, he really does deserve to die,” Whitfield said.
“Now that it’s about done and over with, I feel more relieved,” said the victim’s father, Anthony McQuirter. “We can’t bring her back, but she can rest in peace now.”
It took jurors less than four hours to come back with a guilty verdict.
During the sentencing phase of the trial, Lane opted not to present any evidence on his behalf and forfeited any attempt at convincing the jury to save his life. He would not even allow his attorneys to offer a closing statement at the sentencing.
There were no explanations for Lane’s decision to not plead his case and that may explain the swiftness of the jury’s decision
