Mother and father of 8-year-old girl admit to raping her

El Paso News.Net
Friday 12th March, 2010

A 47-year-old woman in Lacey, Washington state, has been sentenced, along with her husband, 51, to jail time for raping her eight-year-old daughter.

Donna Marie Whisenhunt pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree child rape as part of a plea agreement.

The couple were arrested in May after their daughter, who they adopted from China soon after her birth, told school counselors of sexual abuse at home.

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Gary Tabor sentenced Donna Marie to 16 years to life.

Her husband, Eddy Whisenhunt, a former bus driver for Intercity Transit, was sentences to 18 years in prison.

Although the abuse occurred over a four year period, both parents have maintained that, while they were abusing the girl, they were unaware that the other was doing the same.

“This is one of those truly heartbreaking cases,” Thurston County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Skinder said after Eddy Whisenhunt’s sentencing.

He added, after Donna’s sentencing, that the mother had apologized for her crimes, and hoped her daughter would be able to move on from the trauma.

The child was placed in the custody of Child Protective Services after the allegations first came out, and has, according to authorities, been thriving in her new home.

Have your say on this story