AUBURN, Ala. (EETV)- Auburn Police has confirmed the identity of the female discovered deceased inside an apartment in the 400 block of White Street as Phyllis Gulatte. Police responded after receiving a suspicious incident call.
A preliminary investigation into the incident indicated that the victim sustained fatal stab wounds. Lee County Coroner Bill Harris responded to the scene and pronounced the victim deceased at 2:59 a.m.
Further investigation by Auburn Police resulted in Christopher Bernard Lyles, age 48 of Auburn being developed as a suspect. Lyles and the victim, who were known to each other, became engaged in an altercation inside the residence that escalated, resulting in Gulatte being stabbed. A warrant for Lyles arrest charging him with murder has been obtained; he is being sought by Auburn Police with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force.
At the time of this Homicide Lyles was out on Parole; although the Auburn Police Division requested that the Parole Board deny his parole as it related to a 16 year sentence for striking a victim in the head with a firearm in 2008. The 2008 Assault occurred while he was out on Parole for a 30 year sentence stemming from charges of Robbery 1st Degree, Assault II degree and Discharging a Firearm convictions in 1992.
The case remains under investigation by the Auburn Police Division, State Medical Examiner Office and the Lee County Coroner’s Office. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at (334) 501-3140 or at the tip line, (334) 246-1391.
