In a chilling turn of events, the tragic murder of Texas mother Alyssa Burkett has unveiled a web of deceit and betrayal that extends beyond her prime suspect, Andrew Beard, the father of her child. Just days before her death, a text message sent to Beard hinted at a sinister plan, leaving investigators and the public grappling with the shocking details.
On the morning of October 2, 2020, Alyssa, only 24, arrived at her workplace in Carrollton, Texas, when her life was abruptly cut short. A man in a black Ford Expedition approached her vehicle and shot her through the driver’s side window. In a desperate bid for help, Alyssa managed to escape her car, leaving a bloody handprint on the leasing office window of the Greentree Apartments. Tragically, her assailant pursued her, inflicting 44 stab wounds before fleeing the scene.
Alyssa’s mother, Teresa Collard, was quick to point fingers at Andrew Beard upon her arrival, knowing he was the father of Alyssa’s one-year-old daughter, Willow. Hours after the attack, police apprehended Beard during a traffic stop, where he was accompanied by his fiancée, Holly Elkins, and baby Willow. Although Beard was allowed to leave, police seized his truck for further investigation.
As the investigation progressed, detectives uncovered alarming evidence linking Beard to the crime. A GPS tracker was discovered under Alyssa’s car, and a search of Beard’s home revealed a battery for the tracker and an unregistered gun silencer. The following day, police found disturbing items in Beard’s pickup truck, including dark makeup and a pair of hiking boots that had been cut up and soaked in bleach.
Reports indicate that Beard had purchased the black SUV specifically for the murder. The vehicle was later found abandoned near his home, with a fake beard smeared with dark makeup inside, suggesting a premeditated plan. Just three days after Alyssa’s murder, Beard turned himself in to authorities and was charged with murder.
In the days that followed, Holly Elkins voluntarily spoke to detectives, claiming Beard had been home with her during the murder. However, her internet searches following the interview raised eyebrows, with queries about court appearances and mental health issues.
After spending two weeks in jail, Beard was released on bond but was rearrested shortly after due to federal firearm charges stemming from the investigation. In June 2022, he pleaded guilty to cyberstalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in death, implicating Elkins in the murder plot during an FBI interview. He reportedly revealed that she had orchestrated the plan, instructing him on how to carry out the crime.
In a surprising twist, Elkins was arrested nearly three years later, upon returning from a trip to the Dominican Republic. Investigators had built a case against her, uncovering text messages that suggested her involvement, including a chilling message sent to Beard a week before the murder that read, “I hope you handle it I’m not coming home to bs*.”
Elkins faced multiple charges, including conspiracy to stalk and brandishing a firearm in relation to a violent crime. Her trial commenced in April 2024, and after just an hour and a half of deliberation, the jury found her guilty on all counts. She was sentenced to two life terms on August 15, 2024.
As this harrowing case unfolds, the question remains: what drove these individuals to such a tragic end?
