North Carolina – In a case that has shocked residents in North Carolina, a 31‑year‑old man, identified as C. Whitley, has been charged with first‑degree murder for the death of a 34‑year‑old woman, identified as A. Lowe. Authorities say he strangled her to death inside her apartment on September 10 and then made chilling calls and videos to friends in which he apparently “bragged” about the crime.
Whitley is facing the most serious possible charge under North Carolina law—first‑degree murder—for the intentional killing of his girlfriend. According to the police and public records, multiple friends of Whitley reported him to authorities, stating that he had confessed to killing his girlfriend. One of the 911 calls included the statement: “My friend just called me. He murdered his girlfriend and then switched to FaceTime … and she’s laying on the floor.” Court records reveal that Whitley had a prior conviction in Texas for assault causing bodily injury to a family member in 2019. That past record surfaced during the investigation, raising red flags about the dangers of predatory behavior and the need for more robust screening on dating apps.
Lowe, an honors‑level nurse who had just begun her dream career path in nurse anesthesiology, met Whitley via a dating app. She had begun to open her personal life to him, but family members later expressed concern that he might have been controlling. On the morning of September 10, at her apartment, Whitley allegedly strangled Lowe around 5:30 a.m., according to the death certificate. She lay dead in her home until roughly 2:30 p.m., when paramedics declared her deceased. During that time, Whitley remained inside, “lingering … until his family persuaded him to surrender.”
Evidence of the crime quickly surfaced. Investigators obtained disturbing 911 recordings in which a friend of Whitley said he witnessed his call: “He murdered his girlfriend and then switched to FaceTime …” Another friend reported receiving pictures of the victim’s body after initially dismissing the messages as a joke. Officer records confirmed Whitley was found barricaded at the scene and was taken into custody without bond. Family members said Lowe was a beloved sister, daughter, and caregiver. Lowe’s family has urged dating apps and platforms to enhance background checks and safety measures. The victim’s stepmother told local media, “She just picked the wrong guy, unfortunately, and she didn’t know how to vet him.” Several women came forward after the murder with allegations of abuse by Whitley, suggesting a pattern of behavior unknown to Lowe’s family.
Following his arrest, Whitley was charged with first‑degree murder and held in the county detention facility without bail. As of now, no trial date has been publicly set. The evidence is being reviewed, and prosecutors have not yet disclosed what sentence they will seek, though first‑degree murder typically carries severe penalties—including life in prison. While the legal process continues, the tragedy has opened up larger conversations about isolation, loneliness, and how people online can hide the darker sides of themselves. For Lowe, a talented nurse whose life was just beginning, the risk she took by trusting someone she met on a dating app ended in the worst possible way. In the end, the case stands as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers that can linger behind charismatic strangers: a young woman lost her life, and now a man may spend the rest of his behind bars for the worst mistake of his life.
