A North Texas woman was given two life sentences in prison after she was convicted of helping her then-fiance orchestrate the death of his ex-partner, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced in a news release Thursday.
Holly Ann Elkins, of Rowlett, was convicted in April 2023 of conspiracy to stalk, stalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in death, and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.
Elkins’ ex-fiance, Andrew Beard, was sentenced to 43 years in federal prison on charges of stalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in death and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to evidence presented at trial, Elkins helped Beard plot the Oct. 2, 2020 death of 24-year-old Alyssa Ann Burkett. She shared a daughter with Beard.
Prosecutors argued Elkins “goaded” Beard into taking his ex-girlfriend’s life and called her fitness as a parent into question, according to the release.
Elkins and Beard’s relationship began in April 2020. In June of that year, Elkins “grew frustrated” with Beard’s ongoing association with Burkett, writing to him, “you continue to put [Burkett] first,” among other messages, the release says.
She began harassing Burkett in the summer of 2020, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The harassment included placing a GPS tracker on Burkett’s vehicle, making false reports to authorities, and hiring a private investigator to “dig up dirt” on Burkett and her new boyfriend, according to the release.
The investigator testified at trial, saying he found nothing on Burkett.
In September 2020, Elkins helped Beard plant drugs and a gun in Burkett’s car to make a false report to police, according to the attorney’s office.
Investigators discovered Beard’s Google searches included a query about how to remove gunpowder from his hands. In text messages, Elkins told Beard, “I hope you handle it,” and she requested that he be “ride or die” for her, and if he was not, she was not sure the relationship could continue, according to the release.
In October 2020, Beard shot Burkett in the head with a shotgun while she sat in her car in her workplace’s parking lot, the release says. As she struggled out of the car, Beard stabbed her 44 times, according to the investigation.
She died as her co-workers tried to render aid, the investigation found.
While the slaying took place, Elkins stayed at Beard’s Rockwall home with his daughter, according to the release. In an attempt to create an alibi, Elkins claimed Beard was with her when Burkett was killed.
At the trial, Burkett’s boyfriend testified that Elkins was the “puppet master” behind the killing.
Most Popular
Comments / 0