Woman beaten to death Sunday identified

Police on Wednesday released the name of the woman beaten to death in south Wichita Sunday night.

Lisa Poynter, 41, was found outside the converted garage at 4513 S. Main she shared with her boyfriend shortly after 10:30 p.m. Sunday. She had been struck multiple times with a large object, police said, and was pronounced dead at scene.

Benjamin James Thomas, 43, claimed she had been attacked by a group of strangers while they were walking along South Broadway, police have said, but officers only found evidence of a struggle inside the residence they shared in the converted garage. Thomas has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder.

Police presented evidence in the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday, Lt. James Espinoza said. Poynter is the 26th homicide victim of the year in Wichita.

This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 1:52 PM with the headline "Woman beaten to death Sunday identified."