Post Mortem | The Plot to Kill Alyssa Burkett

The case of Alyssa Burkett’s 2020 murder in broad daylight outside her workplace in Carrollton, Texas, took a shocking turn when her ex-boyfriend Andrew Beard’s fiancée, Holly Elkins, was arrested nearly three years later for conspiracy to stalk and murder using a dangerous weapon. While Beard was quickly identified and surrendered, the real mastermind behind the plot was Elkins—whose manipulation of Beard through emotional and psychological pressure led him to commit the crime. Despite a public disguise that was laughably ineffective, Elkins orchestrated a web of lies, including fake 911 calls, GPS tracking of Alyssa’s car, and even a staged drug bust to undermine her custody rights. What made the case even more chilling was Elkins’ performance during her trial, where she played the grieving daughter of a suicide victim to gain sympathy—while simultaneously searching online for ways to avoid prosecution via mental health defenses. The 48 Hours team uncovered damning evidence, including texts, purchase records, and GPS data, that tied her directly to the planning. Her defense’s attempt to discredit the makeup evidence with a courtroom makeover only highlighted the absurdity of the moment. Ultimately, Elkins was sentenced to two life sentences, while Beard, who admitted to the murder, never faced trial.