Tonya Whipp
Missing Person Tonya Whipp
Tonya was born on October 8, 1984, the youngest of 4 sisters and 1 brother. She grew up in the Auburndale area but she had recently been working at Pinch A Penny and Pizza Boss while living near Venice, Florida for 5 years. In March, 2023, she moved back to Auburndale to move in with her now fiancee’ Russell Carrol.
She was last heard from in late May 2023. While she has not yet been found, investigators now consider the case a homicide. Her fiancé, Russell Carroll, is currently the sole suspect and remains in custody on related financial charges.
MISSING PERSON Agency case number23-1444
TONYA LEE WHIPP
Missing from Auburndale, FL
- Tonya Lee Whipp DOB: 10/8/1984
- She is white female, approximately 5’7”, with light brown hair.
- March or April 2023 moved back to Auburndale form Sarasota
- Tonya Whipp lives in the Auburndale area where she was last seen.
- Tonya owns a Grey 2012 Toyota Coroll
- Last known contact with Whipp was May 28 – June 1, 2023.
January 2023
- Russell Carroll is released from prison.
- He served prison time for attempted murder in 2003
February 2023
- According to Carroll, Tonya Whipp begins living with him at 1018 Caroline Avenue in Auburndale.
May 5, 2023
- Tonya send a text message to her sister Donna
May 26, 2023
- Whipp’s family hears from her for the last time.
May 28, 2023
- Police believe this is when Whipp goes missing.
June 1, 2023
- Sister Robyn Received a Facebook Message form Tonya
- Tonya left her beloved pets, ID, purse, vehicle behind.
June 6, 2023
- Tonya was at Jake Rudy home on Indiana Court on June 6 and left with Snoop
June 7, 2023
- Russel posted a Video of Tonya on Facebook
June 28, 2023
- Donna posts on Facebook looking for Tonya
June 29, 2023
- Family files a Police Report
- Carroll made cash withdrawals from Tonya account.
July 16, 2023
- Search Party by We are the Essentials
July 26, 2023
- Police executed a search warrant search for Jake’s Property but nothing was found.
October 4, 2023
- Police search Russell Carroll’s home for the first time, reportedly digging up the backyard and taking electronic devices, including his phone and computers. He tells 10 Tampa Bay he did not hurt Whipp and did not know where she was. “I just got out of prison and now everyone is looking at me like I did something to you,” Carroll said at the time. “I just miss her. I want her home just like everybody else does.”
December 30, 2023
- Whipp’s family holds a candlelight vigil, praying for peace and answers.
May 14, 2024
- Carroll is arrested for allegedly using Whipp’s financial accounts to redirect money to himself. He was charged with grand theft and unlawful use of personal identification information.
May 17, 2024
- State court documents reveal Whipp is presumed to be dead and that Carroll is the “only suspect” in her homicide investigation. Investigators search his Caroline Avenue home again.
April 15, 2026
- Polk County judge denied a plea deal for the man accused of stealing his missing girlfriend’s money.
“There is an ongoing investigation, Ms. Whipp has been missing for a couple of years. A couple of years? Yes, since 2023, May of 2023, so, that is an investigation that has been going on,”
“Given the history of the defendant and given all the facts and circumstances surrounding this case, in the courts exercise of its discretion, it’s going to reject the plea at this point,” stated the judge. - Prosecutors said Russell Carroll accessed Tonya Whipp’s bank accounts and spent her money after she disappeared in 2023.
May 12, 2026
- Carroll has a pre-trial detention hearing scheduled for May 12.