ABC 6
August 21, 2013
A Linden-area woman was able to survive a brutal rape and assault by playing dead while her attacker attempted to smother her with a pillow, according to police. Leanna Whitlock suffered 14 stab wounds, as well as facial fractures, after being raped inside her Aberdeen Ave. home on August 14.
Police apprehended the alleged attacker, David Hudson, at his mother’s Robert St. home less than an hour after officers found Whitlock injured on her front porch while responding to a 911 call. Whitlock told police Hudson walked into her home and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he threatened her with a knife.
“When he came in, he told me he killed my husband, and my husband was already dead,” Whitlock said. “He asked me if I wanted to be dead with him.” Whitlock claims Hudson then ordered him to an upstairs bedroom, where he once again forced her to perform oral sex, then stabbed and cut her on the head, neck, and torso. Whitlock told police Hudson also punched her and stomped on her before attempting to suffocate her with a pillow.
Whitlock said Hudson told her he was going to kill her during the attack. She said she played dead during the smothering attempt, which convinced Hudson to leave her home.