The Murder of Alyssa Burkett: A Deadly Custody Dispute in Carrollton, Texas
The Ambush in Broad Daylight
On the morning of October 2, 2020, 24-year-old Alyssa Burkett arrived for her shift as an assistant office manager at the Greentree Apartments in Carrollton, Texas. Expecting a normal workday, she was instead met with a horrific ambush. As she pulled into the parking lot, a disguised attacker in a dark SUV shot her through the car window. Despite her injuries, Alyssa bravely attempted to flee toward the leasing office, but the assailant caught up to her, stabbing her dozens of times. The sheer brutality and sustained nature of the attack made it immediately clear to law enforcement that this was not a random crime, but a highly targeted assassination.
Alyssa was a devoted young mother who had recently been awarded custody of her one-year-old daughter, Willow. Friends and family described her as a strong-willed, ambitious woman who was actively working to build a stable future for herself and her child. Her life revolved entirely around Willow, and she had been navigating a contentious custody battle with her ex-boyfriend, Andrew Beard. The recent court decision granting her custody had seemingly escalated the tensions, setting the stage for the tragic events that unfolded that October morning.
A Methodical Campaign of Harassment
As investigators dug deeper into the circumstances surrounding Alyssa's death, they uncovered a chilling pattern of cyberstalking and harassment that had been escalating for months. Alyssa had confided in loved ones that she felt she was being watched, noting instances where Andrew unexpectedly appeared at her exact locations. Her fears were validated when detectives discovered GPS tracking devices planted on both her vehicle and her new boyfriend's car. This revelation transformed the investigation from a straightforward homicide into a complex case of calculated, long-term stalking.
The harassment extended far beyond surveillance. In the months leading up to the murder, Andrew and his new fiancée, Holly Elkins, engaged in a systematic effort to destabilize Alyssa's life and ruin her credibility. They made false 911 calls reporting erratic driving, filed fabricated police reports claiming assault, and even planted drugs and an illegal firearm in the trunk of Alyssa's car. This sustained campaign was designed to paint Alyssa as an unfit mother and a criminal, all in a desperate bid to gain full custody of Willow and eliminate Alyssa from the picture entirely.
Unraveling the Conspiracy
The swift actions of law enforcement quickly brought the perpetrators to justice. Within hours of the murder, police stopped Andrew and found a burner phone with incriminating internet searches. Further investigation of his home and an abandoned vehicle revealed the tools of the crime: a homemade silencer, dark makeup used for a disguise, cut-up boots soaking in bleach, and a detailed dossier of Alyssa's personal information. The evidence was overwhelming, leading Andrew to plead guilty to federal cyberstalking and weapons charges, resulting in a 43-year prison sentence.
However, the conspiracy did not end with Andrew. Federal investigators spent years meticulously building a case against Holly, demonstrating that she was not a passive bystander but a driving force behind the murder plot. Text messages revealed her demanding that the situation be "handled," and evidence showed her involvement in purchasing the disguise and weapons. In April 2024, a federal jury convicted Holly on all counts, including conspiracy to stalk and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. She was subsequently sentenced to two consecutive life terms, bringing a measure of justice to a case defined by obsession and cruelty.
