Convicted Murderer, J.B. Whitelow, Jr., Sentenced to 134 Years in Jail

Crown Point, Ind. - A Hammond man, J.B. Whitelow, Jr., prosecutors described as a former straight A student was sentenced to 134 years in prison on Friday in the murders of his childhood friend and a bar security guard.

Whitelow, 28, pleaded guilty to the Dec. 27, 2008 shooting death of 27-year-old Jurrel Butler, who was shot while sitting in a van in the parking of an apartment complex in Hammond, a release from the Lake County, Ind. prosecutor's office said.

He admitted to shooting Butler once in the head. Whitelow faced an agreed 45-year sentence for Butler's death, which will be served consecutively to his 89-year sentence for murdering a security guard and for being a habitual offender, the release said.

In connection with the security guard's slaying, Whitelow was convicted of murder and attempted battery on July 22 after a jury deliberated about four hours. He also pleaded guilty to being a habitual offender, the release said.

On Sept. 21, 2008, a group of men who were causing trouble with a bartender were escorted out of McTavern's in Hammond. Outside, in the bar's parking lot, some of the group started to beat one of the bar security guards, 40-year-old Eric Lowe, of Gary.

Two fellow security guards tried to help Lowe but Whitelow fired shots, fatally striking Lowe, the release said.

Whitelow's prior criminal record including a prior murder charge which was dismissed when the state's star witness disappeared, the release said.

Whitelow was a Gangster Disciple and had a tattoo saying "United Nation," a gang new to Northwest Indiana, the release said.

He also boasted masking $15,000 in two weeks by selling marijuana. And when Whitelow was arrested, he had $1,271 on him, the release said.

The mothers of both victims testified at the sentencing hearing. Lowe's mother, Charline Clinton-Randall, described the empty space left within his family and friends because of her son's death, the release said.

Butler's mother, Ella Anderson, said her son and Whitelow were childhood friends and Whitelow spent time at their home.

Whitelow has prior convictions in Cook County for armed robbery and a felony in possession of a handgun, the release said. He was sentenced in 2003 to six years in prison for the robbery and in 2007 to four years for possessing a gun.