DURHAM, N.C. — A Durham man is facing murder charges after investigators say he strangled his girlfriend to death in her apartment before calling relatives and an ex-girlfriend to show them the victim’s body.
According to the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office, 31-year-old Auriel Lowe, a Duke University nurse, died from strangulation. Her body was discovered in September after police responded to a disturbance at her Durham apartment.
Investigators say 31-year-old Christopher Whitley strangled Lowe during an incident inside the home. The autopsy confirmed signs of manual strangulation consistent with homicide.
Authorities say that after the killing, Whitley called his brother and then FaceTimed an ex-girlfriend, showing her Lowe’s body. In 911 calls later obtained by CBS 17, the ex-girlfriend told dispatchers:
“This man murdered his girlfriend. He was on FaceTime. He confessed to murder and then showed me her body.”
When officers arrived, Whitley had reportedly barricaded himself inside the apartment, prompting a standoff. He eventually surrendered and was taken into custody by Durham police.
During Whitley’s court appearance in September, prosecutors noted he previously had a conviction for assaulting a family member in Texas.
Lowe’s death has left her family devastated. Her stepmother, Teresa Lowe, said Auriel dreamed of becoming a mother and wanted a stable life with a good partner.
“She wanted to find a good guy so she could settle down and have kids. And all that was taken away from her,” she said.
Her father, Paul Lowe, described the loss as overwhelming.
“You’re just numb. It’s a unique kind of pain losing a child,” he said.
Family members remembered Auriel as a loving person who became a nurse to help people and make a difference in the world.
Whitley is being held without bond in the Durham County Detention Facility. He is scheduled to appear in court again in January.
The investigation remains ongoing.
———————————-
Connect With Us
Inbound Link: Greensboro NC News
Outbound Link: Join the Conversation on Facebook