Alexandria Griste has found herself in some serious trouble after a heated argument with her boyfriend, Corey Lyles. The situation took a devastating turn when she allegedly sent him a text warning him about the consequences if he returned home – a chilling statement that he would be “dead.”
It all started innocently enough when Corey Lyles decided to bring McDonald’s home for her and her kids. Little did he know that this simple act of getting fast food would lead to a terrible outcome – his death. As tensions rose during a heated argument, things quickly went downhill, and as she threatened him in the text, she shot and killed him.
On Tuesday, Griste was sentenced to 20 years in the state penitentiary following her conviction the previous Friday, as covered by The Oxford Eagle. It is the maximum sentence allowed for that conviction.
The outlet reports she did not take the stand in her defense, but did make a statement at her sentencing. She told the judge she did not intend to hurt anyone, “but I was protecting myself and my children.”
In court, testimony revealed that Griste and Lyles had begun arguing via text message on the evening of July 7, 2022, purportedly because he’d left the house without telling her.
Text messages revealed in court showed the combative couple discussing Lyles picking up McDonald’s for the family before they began to argue. At one point, she sent him a text that said he’d be “dead” if he returned to the home they shared, per The Oxford Eagle.
She reportedly retrieved a 9mm gun from her sock drawer and waited for him to pull up at the house, where the argument continued. Testimony stated that her intent was only to warn him off so he would leave.
Speaking with investigators, per The Oxford Eagle, Griste purportedly stated that Lyles was angry and moving toward her aggressively, which is why she fired three warning shots.
The defendant described Lyles as an MMA fighter, explaining, per the paper, that he had hurt her before. No evidence of past abuse was presented during the trial.
She said that when he continued coming at her, she fired through a window in their door at him. Police reported finding Lyles’ body several feet from the door.
Her defense attorney, Steve Farese, said that there was no evidence to prove she was not in fear for her life at that moment, emphasizing that she’d been cooperative with law enforcement throughout, and even had been the one to place the 9-1-1 call.
“What kind of a world is it if a woman can’t protect herself and her children?” Farese said in his closing, per The Eagle.
It serves as a grim reminder that even the most trivial situations can spiral out of control and have tragic consequences. In this case, what started as a seemingly innocent act of bringing home some fast food ended in unimaginable sorrow. Rest in peace, Corey Lyles!
