Kingsport, Tenn. — What began as a desperate call for help nearly 14 months ago has now turned into a sprawling homicide case that has gripped this small Tennessee community. On Oct. 21, 2024, first responders rushed to a home in the 3800 block of Eastline Drive, where they found 14-month-old Elliot Whitaker unresponsive and suffering from severe trauma. Despite frantic efforts to save him at the scene, and later at Indian Path Medical Center, the tiny boy tragically died — setting off one of the most heartbreaking investigations in recent local memory.
In the months that followed, detectives with the Kingsport Police Department and Sullivan County investigators methodically pieced together what happened that afternoon. The child’s body was sent to the Williams L. Jenkins Forensic Center, where a medical examiner concluded his death was a homicide, citing extensive injuries inconsistent with an accident.
After a lengthy grand jury review, authorities announced in December 2025 that 20-year-old Easton Joshua Vance, a resident of Morristown, had been indicted on multiple serious felony charges in connection with Elliot’s death. The indictment includes three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated child neglect, aggravated rape of a child, and aggravated criminal trespass.
According to court documents, the aggravated criminal trespass allegation stems from accusations that Vance unlawfully entered or remained at the Miller Village Apartments, even though he was not permitted on the property — a detail prosecutors say connects back to an earlier aggravated robbery charge against him. While officials have not released the full details of that prior case, the trespass count underscores a troubling pattern of unlawful conduct linked to the broader investigation.
Community reaction has been visceral. Parents, neighbors, and advocacy groups have called for justice and for authorities to ensure Vance remains behind bars without the possibility of release while the case proceeds. A widely shared petition demanding that the court deny any bond for Vance has drawn thousands of signatures, with signers expressing outrage and sorrow over the loss of a vibrant little boy who should have had his whole life ahead of him.
As of now, Vance remains incarcerated at the Sullivan County Jail, awaiting his next court appearance. Prosecutors have emphasized that their investigation continues, and as with all criminal matters, Vance is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Elliot’s death has left an unmistakable void in the Kingsport community. Friends and family remember him as a curious, joyful child whose life was cut brutally short. In the wake of this tragedy, many residents are grappling with grief, searching for answers, and urging greater attention to child safety and protection in homes and neighborhoods across the region.
