Murder arrest eases pain of victim’s family

Murder arrest eases pain of victim’s family

Ann Whitley holds pic of her son, Thomas.
By Colneth Smiley Jr.  |   Saturday, December 4, 2010  |  http://www.bostonherald.com  |  Local Coverage

Relatives of a Roxbury murder victim yesterday expressed anger but relief at the capture of the suspect allegedly responsible for stabbing the 30-year-old dad of four last month.

“Justice is definitely being served,” Ann Whitley said after attending the Thursday arraignment of Tajuan Holloman, 39, of Dorchester for the murder of her son, Thomas Whitley. “He took a life so he should serve life.”

Relatives said Whitley was well known in the neighborhood as a worker for the family’s restaurant, Ray’s Soul Food, which is now closed. But he was best known for being a loving father to his children, ages 2, 3, 5 and 10.

“There’s four children that’s gonna grow up angry and hard because they don’t have their father,” Whitley’s aunt Shondell Davis said. “Thomas was really funny and really involved in his kids’ lives, always trying to provide for them.”

Holloman is being held without bail.

“I want the capture of this suspect to mean something,” said Dorothy Whitley, 27, one of the victim’s four siblings. “Hopefully, people who kill will realize that they will be found.”

Witnesses at the scene told the family that Whitley’s last words Nov. 6 were “take care of my kids.”

Proceeds from the Thomas Whitley Memorial Fund at Citizens Bank will go toward his children.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1300701