Three days after a tragic daylight shooting in Carrollton, Texas, Alyssa Burkett’s life ended in a brutal and calculated manner that has left investigators and her community reeling. On October 2, 2020, the 24-year-old mother of one was shot and then savagely attacked outside her office while trying to escape a masked assailant, in what police would later describe as a murder orchestrated by those closest to her.
- Alyssa Burkett was murdered in Texas.
- Andrew Beard charged with Burkett's murder.
- Holly Elkins initially claimed innocence.
- Beard and Elkins planned the murder together.
- Elkins received two life sentences.
- Custody battle escalated tension between parents.
Burkett had just parked her car outside the Greentree Apartments leasing office when a man driving a black Ford Expedition pulled up next to her. In a sequence of horrifying events, he shot her through the driver’s side window. Believing she was dead, the attacker fled the scene, only to return when he saw Burkett emerging from her vehicle, wounded but alive. He chased her and stabbed her 44 times with a hunting knife, leaving her to succumb to her injuries. Local authorities soon learned that this heinous act was tied to Andrew Beard, Burkett’s ex-partner and father of their one-year-old daughter, Willow.
Investigators’ focus quickly turned to Beard after Burkett’s mother, Teresa Collard, suggested his name at the crime scene. Reports indicated that, leading up to the murder, Burkett and Beard had been embroiled in a fierce custody battle that had raised tensions between the two. Beard, then 33, had previously filed for primary custody, leading to a climate of fear and distrust that Burkett shared with her family, expressing feelings of being watched.
The day after Alyssa’s death, Beard’s fiancée, Holly Elkins, voluntarily went to the police station to assist with the investigation. "I just feel bad to not help something that I think is very sad that happened," she told detectives, portraying an image of innocence. However, her efforts raised suspicion as detectives started unraveling a deeper plot. Elkins would later claim she "was convinced they had the wrong man," referring to her fiancé. Yet, as the investigation advanced, it became evident that she was more intricately involved than she let on.
Authorities observed oddities during the investigation, including a search of Beard’s home that revealed batteries for GPS trackers, linking him directly to the surveillance of Burkett. Further scrutiny uncovered dark foundation makeup in Beard’s vehicle thought to be used in an attempt to disguise his identity during the murder. The chilling reality set in; Beard reportedly confessed to the FBI that a plan had been devised to kill Burkett, one that involved Elkins steering him toward violent action. "You’re gonna wear this dark makeup … that’s her plan," Beard revealed. This exposé of their correspondence unearthed a sinister dynamic, showcasing Elkins as the mastermind behind the scene.
The case took an unexpected turn when Beard was charged with murder on October 5, 2020. However, his initial freedom was short-lived. Just eight days later, he was rearrested and charged under federal laws related to stalking, resulting from the unregistered silencer discovered in his home.
In June 2022, Beard pled guilty, but investigators knew that Elkins still needed to face the music. They continued to build a case against her, revealing texts that underscored her contempt for Burkett. In one chilling message, just days before the murder, Elkins had texted Beard, "I hope you handle it I’m not coming home to bs."
Investigators believed that without Elkins, Burkett might still be alive. "I 100% believe that if Holly and Andrew had never met, Alyssa Burkett would be alive today," Sergeant Michael Harding stated. The intricate and manipulative nature of their relationship painted a picture far darker than initially perceived.
In May 2023, Beard was sentenced to 43 years in federal prison, but Elkins held her breath, thinking she had eluded culpability. However, two months later, she was arrested at Miami International Airport upon returning from a trip, facing charges of conspiracy to stalk and stalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in death. Elkins, who pleaded not guilty, found herself in a precarious position as the evidence against her mounted.
Elkins went to trial in April 2024, where prosecutors positioned her as a crucial enabler of Beard’s violent actions. After a weeklong trial, jurors returned a guilty verdict on all counts after just 90 minutes of deliberation. Three months later, she was sentenced to two life terms in prison—far exceeding Beard’s sentence.
In a case that speaks to the complexities of domestic violence and the lengths individuals might go to manipulate their partners, the tragic narrative of Alyssa Burkett serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked jealousy and rage. As the community reflects on the loss of a young mother and the shocking revelations of how close conspirators can operate, it remains clear: the impacts of this crime will linger long after the sentences are handed down.
