A Philadelphia man who admitted killing his girlfriend and leaving her body in a casino hotel room in 2021 was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday.
Frankie Lane, 61, of Philadelphia, PA was sentenced to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison, subject to the No Early Release Act for first-degree aggravated manslaughter.
Sharon Whaley, 57, was found dead June 11, 2021, under a sheet inside Room 3419 of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. A knife was lying on top.
Her body had multiple stab wounds, the detective wrote in the affidavit.
Lane was arrested days later after surveillance video led police to identify him as a suspect.
He was seen leaving the hotel with a bag, but did not have it with him in video showing him at the bus terminal. Clothes he was seen wearing when he left were in the bag, which was later found in a trash can.
Members of Whaley’s family spoke at the sentencing, where she was fondly remembered.
Lane pleaded guilty in April to first-degree aggravated manslaughter.
He must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence under the No Early Release Act. He has served more than two years in the Atlantic County Justice Facility, where he remains pending transfer to state prison.
