Man Convicted Of Strangling Pregnant Fiancé, Burying Her In Grandmother's Yard: DA

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — A man accused of killing his girlfriend then burying her body in a relative’s backyard in 2019 was found guilty and sentenced to a term of life in prison.

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said a jury found Aldeyshaun Locklear guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault by strangulation and concealing the death of another in the murder of 19-year-old Te-a Choates. On Friday, Locklear received a life sentence from a DeKalb County judge.

Choates was reported missing on August 10, 2019, by her grandmother, after no one had allegedly seen or heard from her in four days. Choates and Locklear lived with the grandmother in Lithonia.

Detectives canvassed the neighborhood and searched the victim’s social media accounts looking for signs of her whereabouts, to no avail, they said.

Authorities then received an anonymous tip that the victim’s boyfriend was responsible for her death. During her disappearance, Locklear had returned to his parents’ home. He told investigators he last saw Choates leaving with friends and initially denied knowing anything about her disappearance.

Investigators said Locklear changed his story later, saying the two got into an argument and the Choates threatened him with a knife. He told investigators she hit her head on a bathtub when he shoved her. Locklear said he tried CPR when Choates wouldn't "wake up" and she stopped breathing. Locklear allegedly wrapped Choates in a white cover and buried her in the woods behind her grandmother’s house.

After leading detectives to the shallow grave, which he had covered with sticks and debris, Locklear confessed to strangling Choates, causing her death, investigators said. According to the investigation, the two had a volatile relationship marked with physical abuse towards Choates in the months leading up to her death.

Family members told WAGA-TV that the couple met in March and were planning a wedding this month. Choates was three months pregnant.

“They would have an explosive argument, and then she'll call me and say, 'Mom, come get me', then, 'No, no, no, everything is perfect it's fine,'" said Ebony King, Choates' mother, reported WAGA-TV.