Murfreesboro attorney indicted on rape charges dead in Alabama – NewsChannel5.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says the Murfreesboro attorney who was recently added to the agency’s Most Wanted list, died after reportedly shooting himself during an encounter with Alabama authorities.

The TBI said David Whelan killed himself after being confronted by authorities in Mobile, Alabama on Thursday. The shooting remains under investigation in Alabama.

Sources tell NewsChannel 5 reporter Nick Beres that Whelan had a boat and lived on it at a lake in Mobile. However, someone at the lake this week saw the BOLO photo of Whelan and his dog.

The person wasn’t sure if it was Whelan, but immediately recognized the dog and called police, who confronted Whelan on a boat dock. The TBI says the dog is safe, accounted for and waiting for family to travel to Alabama to pick him up.

The TBI began investigating the Murfreesboro attorney in February of 2019 on allegations that he tried to get a client to provide sexual activity in lieu of payment. TBI agents said they found evidence that Whelan forced or coerced female clients into sex as a way to repay their attorney fees.

He was indicted on multiple counts of rape.

In March of 2020, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Whelan when he allegedly raped the teen girl who was babysitting his daughter.

He was added to the TBI’s Most Wanted list after officials say he failed to show up for a court appearance.