Man pleads guilty to 2021 murder in Bartlesville motel
A man pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court for killing his girlfriend at a Bartlesville motel.
30-year-old Koalton Brynn Ellis pleaded guilty to second degree murder in Indian Country. In his plea agreement, Ellis admitted that he repeatedly stabbed the victim, resulting in her death.
“Koalton Ellis maliciously took the life of Buffie Raulston in a fit of anger in 2021. He will now spend time in federal prison to account for his crime,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
On July 24, 2021, the Bartlesville Police Department received a 911 call at 11:07 am regarding the stabbing of a female victim at a Bartlesville motel. Upon arrival, first responders located the victim, and she told them that Koalton Ellis had stabbed her. She was then transported to the hospital and eventually passed away due to her injuries on Aug. 12, 2021.
Dispatch also received a call from an unknown male who reported the suspect of the stabbing was hiding behind a wooden fence near a local tire shop. The suspect was located, taken into custody and identified as Ellis. Officers reported that Ellis was sweating profusely and appeared to be under the influence of drugs.
At the hotel, a witness reported seeing Ellis and the victim arguing then Ellis making some sort of punching or stabbing motions against the victim. The witness also recognized Ellis as the man who had been staying in the same room as the victim.
Finally, surveillance video recovered at the motel showed Ellis and the victim walking out of their motel room, having a conversation. Ellis walked to the parking lot then returned to the room. Shortly after, Ellis left his room and began knocking on and kicking on a nearby motel door. The victim then appeared to talk to Ellis as he was kicking the door and placed herself between the defendant and the door, trying to calm him down.
Ellis then retrieved a knife from his pocket and stabbed the victim in the neck. She collapsed to the ground, and the defendant continued to stab her until she lay motionless. Video then showed Ellis fleeing the scene.
The FBI and Bartlesville Police Department conducted the investigation.