In the early morning hours of October 2, 2020, a gruesome event unfolded at the Greentree Apartments in Carrollton, Texas, forever altering the lives of those connected to Alyssa Burkett. The 24-year-old mother had pulled into her typical parking spot at around 9 a.m., just another day at work as an assistant property manager. However, that day would quickly devolve into a nightmare that would shake her family and community to the core.
- Alyssa Burkett was murdered in Texas.
- Teresa Collard dreams of her deceased daughter.
- Custody battle escalated tensions before murder.
- Andrew Beard was revealed as the assailant.
- Holly Elkins involved in the conspiracy.
- Justice served with guilty verdicts for both.
Witnesses recall seeing a black Ford Expedition pull into the adjacent parking space, followed by a horrifying scene as a man exited the vehicle armed with a gun. “Alyssa’s car was parked right here,” said Sgt. Michael Harding, one of the lead detectives. “The assailant’s vehicle had parked right next to her, and then we heard the gunshot.” The shot shattered her left eye and part of her face, yet in a display of incredible will, Alyssa climbed out of her car, desperately seeking help. In a tragic twist, the assailant then attacked her with a hunting knife, stabbing her 44 times in an act of brutal violence described by responding officers as “one of the most brutal scenes” they had encountered in their careers.
Alyssa managed to leave a blood handprint smeared on the window of the leasing office, a final plea for help as she staggered toward her coworkers. “She was still alive,” Harding explained, underscoring the horror of the scene where employees were too terrified to intervene, fearing an active shooter situation.
As medical responders arrived, it was already too late. Alyssa succumbed to her injuries, leaving behind a one-year-old daughter, Willow. Her mother, Teresa Collard, immediately suspected Andrew Beard, Alyssa’s estranged boyfriend and the father of their child, was involved. “I know he did this … he is an evil person,” she told detectives through tears.
The tragedy did not stem from a single impulsive act; instead, it was rooted in a harrowing custody battle that had escalated for months. Friends and family recalled the mounting pressure Alyssa faced from Beard, who had initiated the fight for full custody, claiming that Alyssa was unfit to be a mother. “She was terrified,” said Alyssa’s sister, Madison Grimes. “Willow was the most important thing in her life, and Andrew wanted her.”
As the investigation unfolded, authorities uncovered a dark web of manipulation orchestrated not just by Beard but also by his fiancée, Holly Elkins. Texts revealed a relationship steeped in jealousy, with Elkins harboring deep-seated animosity toward Alyssa. One witness described Elkins as extremely controlling, stating that Beard often became submissive to her demands. “She wanted a perfect family, and Alyssa was in the way,” Detective Jeremy Chevallier noted.
In a shocking series of events leading to the murder, Beard was allegedly coerced into a more violent course of action by Elkins, following failed attempts to undermine Alyssa’s credibility through slanderous claims. A 911 call was made by a caller identifying himself as Frank Marrow, who falsely reported Alyssa was selling drugs from her car. “I remember thinking the odds of that happening — are slim to none,” said Shelbie Wright, Alyssa’s roommate, recalling that Alyssa was convinced Beard was tracking her every move.
The police confirmed that the drugs and firearm discovered in Alyssa’s trunk were planted, another strategy Beard and Elkins used to gain leverage in the custody dispute. “He is going to try to get someone to kill me next,” Alyssa had warned her friends, an ominous premonition that foreshadowed the deadly turn of events.
Following Alyssa’s death, Beard was quickly apprehended by police, but it was not until the investigation had deepened that Elkins began to emerge as a figure of interest. Under pressure, Beard ultimately confessed to the murder, claiming he acted out of “mercy” because he believed Alyssa was suffering. “If Holly and Andrew had never met, Alyssa Burkett would be alive today,” Harding asserted, encapsulating the tragedy of a life cut short by escalating violence fueled by jealousy and greed.
Holly Elkins fled Texas shortly after the murder, hoping to evade the scrutiny that followed slaughter, but investigators had not forgotten her role in the orchestrated tragedy. Evidence of their collaboration emerged, including text messages detailing a sinister agreement to eliminate Alyssa so that Beard could gain full custody of Willow without competition.
In July 2023, almost three years after Alyssa’s death, Elkins was arrested at an airport upon returning from the Dominican Republic, charged with conspiracy to stalk and stalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in death. Details from the FBI’s investigation revealed alarming communications between Beard and Elkins, illustrating how they worked together to manipulate and ultimately destroy Alyssa’s life.
As Alyssa’s family grieves her loss, they hold onto memories of her love for Willow, aiming to provide the child a semblance of the normalcy that was ripped away from them. “Every Mother’s Day, we visit the grave,” Teresa said, speaking of their commitment to keeping Alyssa’s memory alive. “I hope that one day she grows up and feels the love that her mom sincerely had for her.”
The tragic events that transpired in Carrollton serve as a haunting reminder of the darkness that can lie beneath the surface of domestic conflict, leaving behind shattered lives and unanswered questions. The legal battles may continue, but for Alyssa’s family, the fight for justice remains a testament to her enduring spirit.
