Key Takeaways:
– Texas mother Alyssa Burkett was murdered on October 2, 2020, by the father of her child, Andrew Beard, who was initially the prime suspect.
– Beard’s fiancée, Holly Elkins, was later indicted on three charges related to the crime.
– Beard and Elkins used a black Ford SUV, a GPS tracker, an unregistered gun silencer, and a makeup disguise to commit the murder.
– Beard had sparked an investigation into Elkins involvement in the grotesque murder.
Prime Suspect Kills Texas Mother
On a horrifying day in October 2020, Alyssa Burkett’s life was cut short when Andrew Beard, the father of her one-year-old child Willow, coldly gunned her down. The murder occurred just outside Burkett’s place of work, the Greentree Apartments leasing office, in Carrollton, Texas.
With a bullet lodged in her head, Burkett somehow managed to get out of her car in a tragic bid for help, leaving a bloody handprint on the office window. The assailant chased her down, stabbing her 44 times before leaving the scene. Teresa Collard, Burkett’s mother, swiftly pointed detectives in the direction of Beard.
Detectives Get a Break
Later that day, Beard was encountered by officers, traveling in his white Ford F-150 pickup truck along with his fiancée, Holly Elkins, and baby Willow. As the investigation deepened, the pickup truck was seized, and Beard was told to leave the site.
An intensive search at Beard’s residence unearthed a GPS tracker battery and charging stations. The tracker was identical to one found under Burkett’s car seat. Surprisingly, the search further led to the discovery of an unregistered gun silencer.
Unmasking the Clues
Ensuing investigations revealed more evidence against Beard. A search of Beard’s white F-150 turned up a backpack containing two bottles of dark brown makeup and a slashed pair of hiking boots soaked in bleach. A connection was drawing between the black Ford SUV used by Burkett’s assailant and Beard, when the vehicle was found abandoned mere yards from Beard’s house.
More Novelties Surfaces
Inside the SUV detectives found a manufactured beard smeared with the same dark makeup found previously. Surprising the force, after learning about his arrest warrant, Beard turned himself into the Carrollton Police Department. Yet another incriminating evidence was discovered with Beard’s fiancée, Elkins, as she appeared on the police radar. Elkins launched a series of peculiar internet searches after being interviewed by detectives.
Beard Pleads Guilty
A couple of years later in June 2022, Beard pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and using a dangerous weapon, causing death. As part of his plea deal, Beard provided some incredible details about the crime implicating Elkins.
Elkins Becomes a Co-defendant
Based on Beard’s testimonies, the investigators began building a case against Elkins. A year later during the trial, text messages between Beard and Elkins from a week before Burkett’s murder came to light. In one of these texts, Elkins was urging Beard to “handle it.” She was later indicted on three charges related to the crime, including conspiracy to stalk.
After a swift deliberation, Elkins was found guilty on all charges and faced two life sentences. This horrifying incident is a chilling example of the lengths people can go to when swayed by the dark instincts of human nature. The convicted pair left a trail of pain that scarred the victims’ family and disrupted the harmony of all involved. Investigation occasionally reveals a sole prime suspect, but this case is a grim reminder that collaboratively planned criminal operations can add insurmountable layers of complexity to the process of justice.