In the early hours of a cold January morning in 2013, a delivery driver made a gruesome discovery at a Rally's restaurant in Virginia Beach, Virginia, stumbling upon a crime scene that would unravel a story of betrayal and violence. Inside the fast-food establishment on Lynnhaven Parkway lay the bodies of two brothers, 27-year-old Alphonso Cardell White and 19-year-old Michael A. Johnson, both victims of a fatal shooting. Alphonso, a shift manager at the restaurant, was found in the manager's office with a single gunshot wound to the head, while his younger brother, Michael, was discovered in a pool of blood by the doorway.
The investigation quickly turned inward, focusing on the very people who worked alongside Alphonso. Suspicion fell upon two of his coworkers, 22-year-old Deandre Dunnaway and his 19-year-old girlfriend, Cheari Asia-Na Edwards. The couple, who were part of the closing crew with Alphonso on the night of the murders, were soon arrested and charged with two counts of murder, armed robbery, three counts of use of a firearm, and conspiracy. The motive for this brutal act was the theft of less than $1,100.
The sense of betrayal within the tight-knit circle of Rally's employees was palpable, especially for Alphonso's fiancée, who revealed that the suspects had not only worked with Alphonso but had also socialized with them, even spending the night at their home and playing cards. Dunnaway and Edwards had been welcomed into the victims' lives, making their violent actions all the more shocking to the grieving family. Alphonso was the father of a newborn son and was engaged to be married. The victims' mother was overwhelmed with grief upon hearing the devastating details in court.
In the face of overwhelming evidence, including their own confessions, Deandre Dunnaway and Cheari Edwards pleaded guilty to the murders. Dunnaway admitted to planning the robbery and knowing he would have to kill any witnesses. He was sentenced to three life terms without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 23 years. Through his attorney, he offered an apology for his actions. Cheari Edwards, for her role in the planning and execution of the robbery and murders, was sentenced to 47 years in prison. The tragic case left a community in mourning and a family forever shattered by a senseless act of violence perpetrated by those they had considered friends.
