North Texas woman found guilty of plotting fiancé's ex-girlfriend's murder

CARROLLTON, Texas - A federal jury convicted a Rowlett woman of planning the murder of a love rival.

32-year-old Holly Elkins was found guilty of orchestrating the murder of her fiancé's ex-girlfriend on Wednesday.

Alyssa Burkett, 24, was shot and stabbed to death on Oct. 2, 2020, at a Carrollton apartment complex where she worked.

Prosecutors told the jury Elkins was the "puppet master" behind Burkett’s murder. She stalked and harassed Burkett for months. She helped plant drugs and a gun in her vehicle and called police on her, falsely claiming Burkett was a drug dealer.

Prosecutors say Elkins was obsessed with wanting custody of Burkett's daughter, who was the child of her fiancé, Andrew Beard.

A year ago, Beard, 36, admitted to murdering Burkett. He pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and using a dangerous weapon resulting in death. He is serving a 43-year federal prison sentence.

Teresa Collard, Burkett’s mother, was overwhelmed with emotions while leaving federal court Wednesday after the verdict.

"But happy, happy overwhelming emotions because finally, finally. This has been a long time coming, she said.

Collard watched Elkins in court.

"No emotion at all. She didn’t have anything," she said. "I don’t even know if she blinked."

Elkins was arrested in Miami in July of last year. Her defense attorneys asked the jury why prosecutors did not call Beard to testify.

Prosecutors responded it was because they are "not going to put a psychopathic murdering liar on the stand."

That statement speaks to the elaborate and vicious plot to destroy Burkett described in the indictments.

In July 2020, Elkins called police using a fake name and falsely reported Burkett was driving dangerously. A month later, Elkins made another false report.

Then, on Sept. 2, Elkins and Beard planted illegal drugs and a pistol in the trunk of Burkett's car to have her arrested.

Beard called police using a fake name and falsely reported Burkett was selling drugs.

A week before the murder, Elkins texted Beard "I hope you handle it," and that he’d be her "ride or die." 

On Oct. 2, Beard, disguised as a Black man, shot Burkett in the head while she was in her car in the parking lot of the apartment complex where she worked. As she staggered out of the car, he then stabbed her 44 times.

Elkins remained at Beard's home with Burkett's 1-year-old daughter to establish an alibi, falsely claiming Beard was home at the time of the murder.

For the family, the guilty verdict is an important step toward closure.

[REPORTER: "What would Alyssa think about this?"]

"She would be thrilled. I've been going to that gravesite since day one telling her justice is gonna be served sooner rather than later," said Collard.

Now, the child’s grandmother is raising the 4-year-old, who does not know the horrific story of what happened to her mom.

"It happened when she was 14 months old so she just has no idea," Collard said.

Sentencing will be in a few months, but the conviction in the case means Elkins could serve life in prison.