DURHAM, NC – A nurse at Duke University Hospital who had recently embarked on her dream career was killed in her Durham apartment, allegedly by a man she met through a dating application, according to law enforcement and family members.
Authorities say Auriel Lowe, 34, was found dead inside her residence on September 10. Christopher Whitley, 31, is accused of strangling Lowe after which he reportedly contacted friends using FaceTime to reveal her body, prompting a series of urgent 911 calls that quickly brought police to the scene.
Investigators described a chilling sequence of events. According to police, after allegedly killing Lowe, Whitley locked himself in her apartment and began reaching out to acquaintances through calls, texts, and video messages. One friend reportedly called 911 after receiving a FaceTime call where Whitley confessed to the crime and showed Lowe lying motionless on the floor.
Lowe’s family described her as a woman who worked tirelessly to achieve her professional goals. She had recently earned a promotion and was excited to start a new chapter in nurse anesthesiology. “The circumstances of her death are devastating and unfathomable to the family,” a relative shared in an online statement, adding that Lowe had always dreamed of helping others through her medical career.
Relatives say Lowe kept her relationship with Whitley largely private. According to her stepmother, Lowe had only been seeing Whitley for a few months after meeting him on a dating platform. “I think he may have been overpowering her,” she explained, noting Lowe’s reserved demeanor about the new relationship.
As news of the incident spread, multiple women posted online alleging similar encounters with Whitley after connecting on dating apps. Public records indicate that Whitley had a previous conviction in Texas in 2019 for assault causing bodily injury to a family member, for which he received a suspended jail sentence and probation.
Concern over safety on dating platforms intensified among those close to Lowe. Her stepmother voiced her frustrations, suggesting that dating apps need to implement stricter background checks for users.
The timeline pieced together by detectives suggests nearly five hours passed between the time of Lowe’s death, which has been estimated at 5:30 a.m., and when Whitley began reaching out to friends. Paramedics declared Lowe dead at the scene at about 2:30 p.m. after officers responded to the 911 calls.
Police said Whitley barricaded himself inside the apartment after the crime, but with encouragement from his own family, he ultimately surrendered to authorities. He was swiftly arrested and later charged with first-degree murder.
Whitley is currently being held at the Durham County Detention Facility without bond as the investigation continues.