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Holly Ann Elkins, a Rowlett woman who helped her ex-fiancé kill his ex-girlfriend, has been convicted by a jury and could face life in prison.

Elkins helped her then-boyfriend Andrew Charles Beard, who shot and stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in 2020.

According to evidence presented at trial, Elkins helped plot the Oct. 2, 2020, murder of Alyssa Ann Burkett, 24, Beards’ ex-girlfriend, with whom he shared a young daughter.

On April 17, after a seven-day trial and an hour and a half of deliberation, a jury convicted her of conspiracy to harass, stalking with a dangerous weapon resulting in death and brandishing a firearm in connection to a crime of violence.

Beard pleaded guilty to stalking with a dangerous weapon resulting in death and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and was sentenced to 43 years in federal prison.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton, called it “heinous domestic violence.”

Holly Elkins and Andrew Beard built a campaign of terror targeting Alyssa Ann Burkett, the mother of Mr. Beards,” Simonton said. “After months of stalking and harassment, this campaign ended with the incredibly violent murder of Alyssa at his hands. of Mr. Beard with Ms. Elkins’ full participation and knowledge in the planning and subsequent attempted cover-up.”

“I pray that today’s verdict will bring the victims’ family the peace they need to move forward. I know they will never let Alyssa’s daughter forget how much her mother loved her,” Simonton said.

The government argued that Elkins questioned Burkett’s fitness as a parent and then goaded Beard into killing Burkett, calling her an a** and an idiot whore and a trash mother.

Elkins and Beard began a relationship in April 2020. By May, they were shopping for engagement rings, but Elkins became frustrated that Beards was continuing to associate with Burkett, and then began a campaign to harass Burkett in the summer of 2020, shortly after Elkins moved in with Beard.

This included placing a GPS tracker on Burketts vehicle, making a false 911 call claiming Burketts car was driving erratically on the interstate, falsely reporting to police that Burketts mother had attacked him, including scratching in the chest to support the lie. Elkins and Beard also hired a private investigator to dig up dirt on Burkett and her new boyfriend. Elkins helped Beard plant drugs and a gun in Burketts vehicle, then called the police and claimed Burkett was selling drugs to black men out of his car.

They bought dark clothes, makeup, shotgun shells and a knife. A week before the murder, Elkins texted Beard and said I hope you do. She asked him to ride or die for her and said that if he wasn’t, she’s not sure the relationship can continue. Shortly after that text exchange, Google records reflect that Beard began looking for ways to get the gunpowder out of his hands.

On October 2, 2020, Beard dressed in a black rain suit and disguised himself as a black man, then shot Burkett in the head with a shotgun as she sat behind the wheel of her car in the parking lot of his work When she staggered out of the car, he grabbed her and stabbed and slashed her 44 times. Her co-workers found her covered in blood and gasping for air in front of the office door. She died while they were trying to help her.

At trial, Burketts new boyfriend testified that he believed Elkins was the mastermind behind the murder.

The Dallas Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Carrollton Police Department and the Dallas Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant District Attorneys Gary Tromblay, Rick Calvert and Ryan Niedermair are prosecuting the case. U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle presided over the trial.