Morrisville Teen Found Dead In Tennessee Had Online Relationship With College Student

Jenna Irwin, a University of Tennessee senior, says thefour-year Internet relationship she had with 17-year-oldChristopher Brandon Whitehurst, of Morrisville, was a friendship.

Irwin told

The Knoxville News Sentinel

that Whitehurst did notconfide he was a juvenile until last year.

Irwin said Whitehurst became clingy and said he did not have any friends. She encouragedhim to get out more.

On Aug. 16, the day before she moved back onto campus forthe year, Irwin blocked Whitehurst's Internet messages.

Carla Whitehurst says she last saw her son alive about 10 p.m. that day. She says he would still be alive if Irwin had not led him on.

Police say the boy went to Irwin's home in White Pine, but noone was home.

The boy's body was found Sunday in the trunk of his car at aWal-Mart, his head resting on his shirt, which he had taken off androlled up for a pillow.

There were no signs of injury to his body.