COVINGTON, Ga. - A Covington man pleaded guilty in the middle of trial Wednesday to the December 2016 strangulation murder of a 19-year-old woman he was dating. 

On Dec. 6, 2016, deputies with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on White Birch Drive where they found the Defendant, Elijah Ramoutar, behind the residence. Deputies entered the residence and found Alyssa Wright deceased inside. 

Both  Ramoutar and Wright were 19 years old at the time. 

According to a statement from the Newton County District Attorneys Office, Ramoutar had contacted a family member and stated he had killed his girlfriend. His family then contacted 911 which led to the deputies going to the residence. Ramoutar also made statements to law enforcement that he killed Wright. 

An autopsy by a medical examiner with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations determined Wright died from strangulation. 

Jury selection began Monday and in the middle of the State’s sixth witness, Ramoutar indicated he wanted to plead guilty to all the charges against him,  malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault.

After accepting the guilty plea, Alcovy Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Samuel Ozburn sentenced Ramoutar to life in prison. 

The case was prosecuted by Senior District Attorney Jacqueline Fletcher, Assistant District Attorney Alex Stone, Investigator Beau Alexander, Victim Services Director Leslie Smith and Legal Assistant Sheila Cornelius. 

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation and arrest.

Ramoutar was represented by Attorneys Bruce S. Harvey and Kimberly Cornwell.