Aurora Man Convicted Of Murdering Woman

The following was provided by the Kane County State's Attorney's Office:

"An Aurora man will live out most of his life in prison for fatally shooting his girlfriend near his home in 2014 after a dispute.

A Kane County jury today convicted Christopher M. Whetstone, 49, of first-degree murder in the Jan. 13, 2014, shooting death of 22-year-old Rachel Taylor of Aurora. In addition, the jury found that Whetstone personally fired the gun that led to Taylor’s death.

The jurors deliberated for less than two hours before they reached the verdict.

Kane County prosecutors presented evidence during the 11-day trial that the evening of Jan. 13, 2014, Taylor had driven to Whetstone’s home to let him see the two children they had together. As they were outside in the 500 block of Charles Street, they began to argue over a cell phone. At about 8:25 p.m., Whetstone shot Taylor in the chest, and Taylor exited the vehicle yelling, “He shot me, he shot me!” Taylor ran away from Whetstone, and Whetstone followed and shot her twice in the abdomen.

As Taylor lie on the driveway, Whetstone immediately fled on foot. He was arrested by Aurora police about 10 minutes later a few blocks from the scene. Whetstone said, “You got me, you got me,” and then asked for a cigarette, saying it was the last one he would smoke for a while.

Taylor was taken to Presence Mercy Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead about an hour later.

Circuit Judge John A. Barsanti set Whetstone’s next court appearance for 1:30 p.m. May 12, 2017, for motions and to set a sentencing date. Whetstone faces a sentence of between 45 years’ and life imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Judge Barsanti revoked Whetstone’s bond upon conviction. Whetstone had been held in the Kane County jail since his arrest in lieu of $2 million bail.

“Rachel wanted to end their relationship. Mr. Whetstone responded by killing her. In doing so he committed the ultimate act of domestic violence. In this case, as in too many others, the horrific outcome of the domestic dispute was amplified because two children will grow up without their parents,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said."

Photo provided by the Kane County State's Attorney's Office