Search Captions & Ask AI

The Plot to Eliminate Alyssa Burkett | Full Episode

November 21, 2024 / 41:54

This episode covers the murder of Alyssa Brette, the investigation into her death, and the custody battle surrounding her daughter Willow. Key topics include the role of Andrew Beard as the suspect, the emotional aftermath for Alyssa's family, and the involvement of Holly Elkins.

Alyssa Brette was shot and stabbed in a brutal attack on October 2, 2020, in Carrollton, Texas. Detective Michael Harding recalls the chaotic scene as police arrived, discovering Alyssa had been shot in her car and subsequently attacked with a knife. Alyssa's mother, Teresa Collard, immediately suspected Andrew Beard, Alyssa's ex-partner, as the perpetrator.

The episode details the tumultuous custody battle between Alyssa and Andrew, highlighting Alyssa's fears and the escalating threats she faced. Friends and family recount Alyssa's determination to protect her daughter Willow, despite Andrew's aggressive tactics.

After Alyssa's murder, Andrew Beard was arrested, and evidence linked him to the crime. The episode reveals the shocking details of the investigation, including the discovery of a tracking device and incriminating notes. Holly Elkins, Andrew's fiancée, is also implicated in the conspiracy to murder Alyssa.

The episode concludes with the trial of Holly Elkins, who was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. Alyssa's family reflects on their loss and the impact of her death on their lives.

TLDR

Alyssa Brette's murder reveals a brutal custody battle and the involvement of her ex-partner Andrew Beard and fiancée Holly Elkins.

Episode

41:54
00:00:00
[Music] what was lost when Alyssa was taken what was lost with her murder my daughter
00:00:20
Willow's mother [Music] everything how do you keep Alyssa alive for her daughter Willow show her
00:00:33
pictures this is your mom this is your [Music] mom every Mother's Day we visit the
00:00:41
grave we take flowers we take cards you know we talk about her all the time what
00:00:47
does this say mother of Willow an I hope that when she learns what happens she doesn't let
00:00:56
it tear her apart October 2nd [Music] 2020 any crime scene is going to be inside that tape it's inside that tape
00:01:10
all right I remember my phone was continuously ringing [Music] ringing and I finally answer it cuz it's
00:01:19
my supervisor and she's frantic and she's telling me you've got to get to Green Tree
00:01:25
apartment when we heard that pop I turned around I knew it was a gunshot and she says something has
00:01:30
happened to Alyssa what what happened to her we're going to start having family member show up here I pull up police
00:01:39
fire trucks ambulance everywhere she got shot in the car okay she can see her handprints who are you I'm detective
00:01:46
Harding I remember asking that officer I said she didn't make it did she and he said no she
00:01:55
didn't and I just lost it at that point when you learned that your sister was dead did you have a suspect in mind I
00:02:06
knew immediately it was Andrew beard I knew that the only person I could think that would want her dead was
00:02:15
Andrew beard she even said I think he's the kind of person that's going to try to kill me and he did and he
00:02:24
did oh my God it was one of the most brutal scenes that I've been to in 32 years La
00:02:35
enforcement you could see the rage don't touch anything okay what does it tell you when it's
00:02:42
this vicious about the killer it's personal uh she apparently has had a history with baby daddy within an hour
00:02:50
of getting to the crime scene we knew that we needed to look for Andrew beard Andrew beard is a suspect yes he can not
00:02:59
get away with this he can not get away with this at first this seemed like an open and shut case but as it turned out
00:03:06
Andrew beard was only half the story [Music] [Music] in the months after Alysa brette was
00:04:03
murdered she appeared to her Mother Teresa Collard in a dream I see her across the room and in
00:04:14
my dream I knew she was gone but I was hysterically happy that I was seeing her and I was thinking you're
00:04:26
back she came to me and said no I'm not back and I don't want to come back and I
00:04:35
never want to be there [Music] again I was puzzled why don't you want to come back and she said because I was
00:04:46
always afraid there although 24-year-old Alysa bat had been afraid for months the attack at
00:04:54
this apartment complex where she worked in Carolton Texas north of Dallas came as a
00:05:02
surprise so when you arrive here what do you see according to one of the lead detectives Michael Harding Alyssa pulled
00:05:09
into her usual parking space at around 9:00 a.m. Alyssa's car was actually parked right here where this green van
00:05:16
is right here and the as salance vehicle had parked right next to her in this spot were you here when everything
00:05:23
happened yes I was sitting on my desk Witnesses say the asent exited his vehicle a black Ford Expedition SUV with
00:05:31
a gun in his hand she had the window up and he shot right through the wind right
00:05:36
through the window maintenance supervisor Darren Iker about 15 ft away it's horrible I mean heard the gun blast
00:05:45
and turned around where do you see uh I see a a black SUV starting to back out of the parking
00:05:54
spot investigators believe the shooter thought Alysa was dead the blast had destroyed her left eye and part of her
00:06:02
face but Alysa bat was still alive she gets out of her car and she walks up to this Landing to try to get
00:06:10
help cuz she knows her her co-workers are here the shooter described by some as a
00:06:17
black man I like to say he a black guy got out of the vehicle and began sprinting toward Alissa this time with a
00:06:25
new weapon in his hand something more personal a large hunting knife did you see him holding the knife uh yeah in the
00:06:34
hand after he starts to to stab her she's still fighting on this window right here there was a blood handprint
00:06:41
smear where Alysa was trying to get anyone to come out and help [Music] her but fearing it was an active shooter
00:06:52
situation they stayed inside were we just getting our day started and the attacker launched into a rabid killing
00:06:59
frenzy plunging his knife into flesh and Bone again and again incredibly Alyssa was still breathing when her as salent
00:07:09
fled once the suspect left her co-workers came out to try to render Aid one of her colleagues made this call to
00:07:17
911 911 what is the address of the emergency someone came up and just shot my my assistant manager where is the
00:07:23
shooter I don't have enough information I need he's gone he left in his car he literally left a second ago
00:07:30
fire department pulled up first they come up I get out of the way and let them do their thing and they start
00:07:35
working on her right here you know she was immediately yeah and it was too late she was gone Alyssa had been stabbed and
00:07:45
slashed a total of 44 times Alyssa's Mother Teresa immediately gave the police a name and it wasn't a
00:07:55
black man it was Andrew beard and know he did this he's an evil person Teresa told detectives that Andrew beard and
00:08:04
Alyssa were in the throws of an ugly custody battle over their one-year-old daughter Willow Anne a battle that began
00:08:12
when Alyssa was still pregnant says her friend Brandy Reagan he initiated by asking her if he could have full custody
00:08:20
of the baby after the baby was born and what did Alysa have to say to his idea of him getting full custody he better be
00:08:28
eing kidding me Alyssa and Andrew were worlds apart from the beginning he was almost 9 years
00:08:36
older a stablished with a good job at a tool company a nice house even had a plane she was 22 loved eating turkey
00:08:45
legs at state fairs and was still figuring life out after meeting on a dating app they had a fling nothing
00:08:53
serious but then she found out she was pregnant says her friend and roommate shall be right I'll never forget she's
00:09:01
just standing there hysterically crying um and upset she couldn't even speak and
00:09:07
she hands me a pregnancy test that said positive and I honestly had no words for
00:09:14
her but as the pregnancy progressed Alyssa's fears turned to excitement says Shelby especially when she learned it
00:09:23
was a girl on July 23rd 2019 Alyssa gave birth to a baby girl she named [Music] Willow and when you saw them together
00:09:36
Alysa and Willow what was that experience like amazing motherhood looked great on
00:09:42
her [Music] yes just looking at the two of them you could tell that their relationship was I
00:09:52
mean everything I always love how she's looking at her in this picture Madison Grimes is Alyssa's younger sister Willow
00:10:01
clung to her every second every day and I think that tells you a lot about the mother Lissa was Alyssa went back to
00:10:09
college and got a good job as an assistant property manager I think everything she did at that point in her
00:10:15
life was for Willow she wanted to be successful for Willow she didn't want Willow to grow up and struggle she just
00:10:22
wanted Willow to have an easy life Andrew who had joint custody had Willow a few days every week but he kept
00:10:32
pushing for primary custody dragging Alyssa in and out of court hearings emptying her bank account
00:10:41
she was terrified um Willow at this point was the most important thing in her life and when she you know looked at
00:10:50
the bigger picture Andrew he made more money than her you know he had a house he had all of the nice things that she
00:10:57
didn't have so she was a afraid that you know he wanted Willow and he was going to get her Andrew's mother lazette
00:11:05
Bowers says her son was acting out of love not malice my son Andrew beard is a loving warm individual who always
00:11:17
operated from his heart from his core Center when he had Willow she was constantly strapped to the front of him
00:11:24
he was reading to her he wanted her to see the whole world every day he just felt that he could provide her more
00:11:31
stability in March 2020 when Willow was 8 months old things seemed to change for
00:11:38
the better the feuding parents found Common Ground finally reaching an agreement on visitation and child
00:11:46
support and so things seem to calm down things calm down yeah but a gathering storm was about to
00:11:55
come barreling in sh Police Department search warrant if you're in there come out your hands
00:12:10
[Music] up in the spring of 2020 it looked like the bitter custody battle between Alyssa
00:12:21
and Andrew had finally come to an end Alysa had a new guy named Ben and Andrew fell hard for a woman named Holly Elkins
00:12:32
someone his mom lazette was thrilled about a daughter from minute one she just has this charm and
00:12:40
energy I warmed to her very quickly Alyssa was happy that he started dating someone else I guess hopeful that
00:12:50
Holly would help this situation that Holly would be supportive of the mother that's
00:12:57
involved Holly sent this text to Alysa look forward to having a super healthy relationship with you and Ben Alyssa
00:13:06
responded I hope your influence helps because I'd love nothing more for us all to have a healthy
00:13:14
relationship despite Holly's message Andrew suddenly became hostile with Alyssa he was once again demanding
00:13:22
primary custody of Willow dragging Alysa back into court he was always very short
00:13:28
very very rude very hateful it just totally changed the way that they communicated together Alysa
00:13:36
couldn't shake this uneasy feeling that she was being watched and began telling family and friends that Andrew always
00:13:45
seemed to know what she was doing he knew where she was he knew where Willow was he knew just other places that she
00:13:53
had been I remember one night she was out with one of her friends and they were at a bar in Downtown Dallas and
00:14:00
she's like text me oh my gosh Andrew is here and in my mind I'm like the odds of
00:14:06
that happening are slim to none you know she didn't know how he was tracking her
00:14:10
she just knew that she was being tracked how would you describe what she went through hell I mean every day you feel
00:14:19
like you're having to watch over your shoulder that's how I felt she lived hi everyone um my name's Alysa Madison
00:14:26
found this video after Alyssa's death it was never posted past year I have been going through a custody battle a very
00:14:34
ugly one I have a one-year-old child um it's taken a toll on my mental and physical health with that being said
00:14:42
I've become a lot stronger in the process and I guess just my message is um no matter what you're going through
00:14:52
stick it out you can do it and stay strong but she would continue to be tested in September 2020 1 month before
00:15:02
her murder it reached a whole new level a man who said his name was Frank marrow
00:15:07
called 911 and reported that Alysa was selling drugs out of the trunk of her car at work I saw what I thought look
00:15:15
like someone just selling some drugs out of their truck and I could smell it and
00:15:20
I could see it and okay what kind of vehicle is it it's a little Toyota Corolla I have a license plate if that
00:15:27
help okay great what would your last name marrow acting on this tip Carolton police officers descended on the Green
00:15:35
Tree apartment's leasing office and confronted Alysa she gave them the keys to her car and they opened the
00:15:43
trunk inside they discovered drugs a pistol and some cash exactly where the caller said they would
00:15:55
be so your daughter suddenly now looks like a drug dealer and a dangerous one as well she's armed yes I mean is Alyssa
00:16:04
worried that she's going to get arrested lose her job yes all of the above she's
00:16:07
worried about her job she thinks yeah she's going to be arrested now he's going to use this in court so she's for
00:16:13
sure going to lose Willow after questioning Alysa it was clear to police that she knew nothing
00:16:19
about the drugs and pistol in the trunk of her car they concluded those items had been planted the caller had tried to
00:16:28
frame her Alyssa knew in her gut that CER was Andrew beard later that day she texted
00:16:35
her roommate Shelby Alyssa messaged me and said he is going to try to get someone to kill me
00:16:43
next and when you read those words my heart dropped that wasn't who she was she wasn't a fearful person showing and
00:16:52
asking for help shows me that she was genuinely scared she knew that you know whatever was coming next was going to be
00:17:03
serious the once Fearless young woman had become scared for her life these are some of the texts she sent to her sister
00:17:12
Madison come over while I walk inside lock the door behind you do you see anyone around you and Alyssa wasn't the
00:17:23
only one who was terrified it kept progressing each thing that he would do just kept getting worse and after this
00:17:31
point framing her and she didn't get arrested I thought well what else is there to do besides kill
00:17:50
her one month after the drugs and gun were planted in Alyssa Brett's car she was dead I knew that it was him when
00:17:59
when the drugs didn't work in the car for him to get the baby once we talked to Alyssa's mom we had an idea who we
00:18:05
were looking for and who is that person that person was Andrew beard oh my God and to Teresa's horror he had visitation
00:18:13
with Willow that day the baby was with him yes I want my granden baby away away from him my first thoughts were if he's
00:18:23
going to kill Willow within hours of the murder the police p pulled over Andrew Beard's
00:18:30
F-150 pickup truck for an alleged traffic violation Andrew and his fiance Holly Elkin were asked to get out of the
00:18:38
vehicle the daughter's in a car seat in the back seat much of the body cam footage in this program has been resized
00:18:47
so you can see it better they've been pretty Cooperative Andrew seemed unfazed by the whole thing says detective
00:18:54
Harding he was very calm he wasn't amped up he he didn't seem nervous my part was to just find you
00:19:02
that's all they asked me to do ultimately Andrew and Holly were allowed to go and because he had court-mandated
00:19:09
visitation rights take Willow with them but the police seized his F-150 pickup and instructed him not to return home
00:19:20
Andrew Holly and Willow went to a hotel got garage and that night a search of Andrew's house turned up critical
00:19:30
evidence this was found inside the living room in one of Andrew Beard's backpacks such as this envelope
00:19:36
scribbled with incriminating notes upon reading the notes we realized those were
00:19:42
tied to the Frank marrow 911 call Frank marrow the caller who had reported Alyssa was selling drugs out of her car
00:19:51
Alyssa's license plate number the color and model of the vehicle Frank marrow everything that he needed to make that
00:19:59
911 call was on this back of this it's like you discovered the screenplay to this phony call to 911 that was kind of
00:20:07
shocked I was like he he kept this so we found this GPS tractor box also in plain
00:20:15
view says another lead detective Jeremy chalier charging stations and batteries that match the tracking device
00:20:22
detectives discovered on Alyssa's car after the murder so this is the device that was put on her car
00:20:29
that was all part of his plan to to catch her doing something that he believed that she shouldn't be
00:20:34
doing to gain an advantage in that child custody dispute a search of that Ford F-150
00:20:42
seized at the traffic stop turned up more jaw-dropping evidence so this is one of the makeup vials that were
00:20:49
recovered from inside one of the bags in the F-150 it was a foundation called Java yeah it's really dark very dark and
00:20:58
the purpose of that was what do you believe was to disguise Andrew Beard's face to make him look like an
00:21:03
African-American the police found the knife sheath at the scene but never found the knife or the gun but the day
00:21:10
after the homicide they found something just as important that black SUV they learned Andrew had bought it
00:21:18
specifically to commit the murder and there it was abandoned less than a mile from Andrew's house he drove it to that
00:21:26
location and he fled back to his house the morning of the murder that's Andrew beard captured on a home security camera
00:21:35
fleeing through the neighborhood he is doing the Bigfoot run from this vehicle what' you find when you guys process the
00:21:43
inside of this vehicle we were able to recover multiple spots where blood was recovered that was later tested to be
00:21:50
Alyssa's blood they also found another part of his disguise a fake beard that looks
00:21:57
like a Halloween kind of beard just exactly yes he he purchased a a Halloween costume so that's what led us
00:22:03
to get the arrest warrant for Andrew beard Andrew beard who still had Willow had been staying in an Airbnb with his
00:22:12
fiance Holly Elkins and mother Lizette when we were at the Airbnb he got a call he was going to be arrested just 3 days
00:22:23
after Alyssa was killed Willow was sent back to Teresa and Andrew beard turned himself into the police Andrew beard he
00:22:33
was charged with murder I was confident they had the wrong man so was Holly Elkins she volunteered to speak to the
00:22:41
police I want to help I really do but I don't have any answers incredulous that the man she planned to marry was capable
00:22:49
of murder so I just told all my friends and family that I'm engaged to the most wonderful man on the planet and now
00:22:56
people want me to believe that he's not and there are so many emotional roadblocks for you to try to believe
00:23:02
that I get that I can't believe that my fiance would do something like that to a
00:23:07
woman or to anybody but a woman detective chaler on the right and detective Hardin on the left interviewed
00:23:16
Holly for about an hour hoping to turn her into a witness for the prosecution I'm telling you there's a side of him
00:23:24
that you do not know but she stood by Andrew insisting that he had an alibi he was home with her when the murder took
00:23:33
place there are a few hours that you know he was not in that house you can not tell me that I feel that way sir I
00:23:41
can tell you that because I know that for a fact that he was out of the house Holly I don't know that for a fact
00:23:47
that's what my problem is Holly remained adamant that she would have known if he
00:23:52
had left I am a total stage five Clinger girlfriend I'm always up his ass ask I find it hard to
00:24:01
believe the interview ended with Holly standing by her man she and Andrew's mom lazette continued living together in an
00:24:11
Airbnb they became extremely close and bonded over their shared belief that Andrew was innocent says lazette we
00:24:20
stayed so close we were just connected at the hip and made agreements to never go anywhere without one another finally
00:24:29
after 2 weeks behind bars Andrew was released on bond lazette was overjoyed Holly as lazette would soon discover not
00:24:39
so much they've told us he's coming home tomorrow and Holly says I'm going she holds it's holding her suitcase and she
00:24:47
goes I'm going I'm leaving I'm going home but the day before Andrew gets home what why are you choosing
00:24:55
now during this scary scary time for his in his life she'd already ordered her her Uber and never came
00:25:05
back detective chaler says he was so worried about Willow's safety he reached out to the federal government to take
00:25:12
the case under Federal firearm laws because an unregistered silencer was found in Andrew's home the feds agreed
00:25:21
Andrew beard was rearrested 8 days after he bonded out ultimately at that point our goal was was to get him back into
00:25:30
custody Andrew was ultimately charged with cyber stalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in
00:25:37
death 1 year and 8 months after alysa's murder Andrew called his mother with unimaginable news he said you know Mom
00:25:47
I'm I'm going to plead guilty so I immediately said well Andrew you're not going to you're not going to
00:25:54
plead guilty to anything you didn't do because clearly he didn't murder her in my mind because that's out of character
00:26:00
and not who he is and it was stupidly done and he's not stupid so it never was him but she would learn it was him he
00:26:09
admitted he did it he killed the mother of his child I have physically dropped to my knees sometimes
00:26:20
feeling like I've gone punched in the stomach and I have to tell myself I have to tell myself that that
00:26:30
was a a moment a heinous awful out of character broken moment Andrew beard pleaded guilty but
00:26:43
the investigation wasn't over Andrew beard was talking and he had a lot to say how come you waited so long to talk
00:26:52
about what like what Holly did what do you make of Holly Elkin's interview with detectives see more
00:27:02
evidence from the case at 48 [Music] hours.com paully Elkins left Texas and returned to her home state of Michigan 2
00:27:23
and 1/2 weeks after the murder of Alysa brette she gave no hint of what she'd Left Behind says her best friend from
00:27:31
childhood Stephanie G did she ever mention the name Alissa brette to you never never never never not once she
00:27:42
didn't talk about Andrew beard either not even once nope Stephanie who met up with Harley about 7 months after she
00:27:49
returned to Michigan says her old friend appeared to be starting life a new a new
00:27:55
condo a new Lexus a new man she had this boyfriend with her so everything just seemed really normal
00:28:03
Stephanie says from the time she was a teenager Polly always had a guy and she knew how to wrap them around her little
00:28:11
finger it was like a cat and mouse thing when you say cat and mouse she was the cat oh absolutely yes she was the cat
00:28:19
she controlled the relationship absolutely she was the one in the driver's seat back into Texas investigators were
00:28:29
just beginning to learn more about the fiance who had skipped town after the murder one year and 9 months after Alysa
00:28:38
was killed Andrew beard spoke to the FBI as part of a plea deal I'm assuming absolutely it does look planned out cuz
00:28:45
it was the process was planned out it quickly became clear to investigators that this Holly Elkin I'm trying to help
00:28:53
and no one's helping me the Holly Elin seemingly torn apart by Alyssa's death I just feel bad to not I just feel bad
00:29:01
to not help something that I think is very sad that happened was giving the performance of her life I've literally
00:29:08
cried myself to nauseum every single night over this what did you learn about her true feelings about Alysa she hated
00:29:17
Alyssa with with a burning passion investigators dug back into Andrew and Holly's text messages many of which
00:29:25
Alyssa's family also saw both of you learn that Holly had um some derogatory words about Alyssa what did
00:29:36
she call her ugly fat a bad mom all things that she wasn't and baby mama is was my sister's contact
00:29:49
name and Holly's phone C baby mama derogatory word that any woman finds despicable but what the heck's all that
00:29:59
jealousy Holly wanted something Alissa had and she didn't says Madison she wanted Willow why was she so obsessed
00:30:08
with Willow that was her life she wanted a a perfect family and that was her way
00:30:14
of getting it Alyssa was GNA stand in her way of doing that if it was Friday H would have been the more Andrew talked
00:30:22
the clearer Holly's role became says detective chaler what portrait did he paint of
00:30:29
Holly Elkins that she was the one running the show uh that she was telling him what he
00:30:37
was going to do when he was going to do it how he was going to do it remember that drug plant if you were to ask me
00:30:43
whose idea was what drugs and and the planning of drugs was was was Elkins Holly Elkins even tried to get Alyssa's
00:30:51
mom Teresa arrested the incident started when Teresa and Alysa drove by Holly and
00:30:57
Andre home Teresa says Holly and Andrew had failed to return Willow at the appointed time we see Holly on the golf
00:31:05
cart with Willow in her lap coming towards the end of their driveway and I got out of the car and I grabbed Willow
00:31:13
went and got back in the car handed Willow to Alysa and sped off Holly immediately called the police who
00:31:20
arrived with body cams rolling the grandmother Holly told them Teresa assaulted her when she grabbed Willow
00:31:28
from her lap she literally Ted me from behind or from behind side I was facing the lake Teresa says she never touched
00:31:36
Holly but Holly pulled up her shirt to show Cops scratches she claimed Teresa had inflicted I have a oh you have some
00:31:46
in your on your stomach what did you think of those pictures that they were ridiculous that
00:31:52
it was so apparent that she had done that to herself how would they even think someone else did that to her
00:31:58
because they're going downwards like your own hand did it the police agreed concluding the
00:32:06
injuries looked like they were self-inflicted but it only made things more dangerous for Alysa says detective
00:32:13
chaler the things that they were doing to try to get custody of Willow wasn't working at that point and I think that
00:32:21
they decided we we got to up the game and uh up in the game meant getting rid of of Alyssa H began playing her game of
00:32:30
cat and mouse it was made very clear to me that your previous methods aren't working this is what you're going to do
00:32:37
now in order to prove that um that that that you're basically you're worthy worthy of being a man who deserved her
00:32:46
love Holly Elkins writes to Andrew I don't want anyone who is a to some low life or a pushover I want a man who
00:32:55
protects his women and child before anyone and doesn't give two FS otherwise your comment just
00:33:03
straightforward manipulation she was going to make him do what she felt needed to be done no matter what and
00:33:11
Andrew told investigators it worked like I was emotionally drained and at that point I just basically said okay and
00:33:20
became submissive to whatever she wanted me to do that's the task I did a week and a half before the murder Holly left
00:33:28
for Mexico but didn't let up on Andrew here's a text this is one week before the murders this is September 25th 2020
00:33:38
Holly Elkins writes I hope you handle it I'm not coming home to BS Andrew beard says that's my goal to that Holly texted
00:33:49
back well it will be a whole different conversation if I feel like you are ride or die
00:33:58
if not then I don't know what is she saying to him to me it means that you're either with me or you're not with me uh
00:34:05
you're either going to ride with me and die with me or you're not going to be with me at all after he killed Alyssa
00:34:11
Andrew told investigators Holly begged for details about the crime her request was that he described uh the murder to
00:34:20
her while they were in bed together it's one of the most degrading things I've ever heard in May of 2023 Andrew beard
00:34:27
was sent sentenced to 43 years in federal prison investigators believe Holly Elkins thought the case was over I
00:34:36
think she believed that the further she got away from this the less involved she
00:34:39
was going to be but it didn't work out for [Music] her these are the photos of the grave we
00:34:59
always decorated for every holiday in July of 2023 Valentine's Day and then Christmas almost 3 years after Alyssa's
00:35:09
death happy Mother's Day Holly Elkins was arrested by federal agents at the Miami Airport as she was returning from
00:35:17
a trip to the Dominican Republic the lanterns that was I think one of my favorite things that we did an Arrest A
00:35:26
Long Time Coming for alysa's family what is that balloon I thought we were never
00:35:32
going to see that happen I felt relief hully who pleaded not guilty was charged with conspiracy to stalk and stalking
00:35:42
using a dangerous weapon resulting in death the FBI had built a compelling case against her says detective chalier
00:35:52
Holly's phone really had a lot of stuff on it searching for tracking devices there were indications that they were
00:35:59
together whenever the ammunition and the knife were purchased and they also tied
00:36:05
Holly to the makeup Andrew used to disguise himself as a black man it was um you're going to dress dress up as a
00:36:15
as a different person essentially you're going to wear this dark makeup that was
00:36:19
her plan that was how it's going to be done while Andrew seems harmless in this video never forget that he was was the
00:36:27
one who chased Alyssa down like a hunter tracking a wounded animal he furiously stabbed her with a
00:36:37
brutality these detectives had never seen Andrew ends up saying about why he came back to finish her what did he say
00:36:47
his statement to US during the interview with agent Hansen was that he did it out
00:36:52
of Mercy that he knew that she was still alive and he was somehow doing her favor
00:36:58
by by killing her Andrew may have committed the murder alone but according to the US attorney's
00:37:05
office he didn't plan it alone in April 2024 paully Elkins went on trial as a co-conspirator in the courtroom where no
00:37:16
cameras were permitted one of the prosecutors put it like this says detective Harding Andrew beard is a
00:37:23
monster but he was Holly oaken's monster I don't want or need a lawyer because I
00:37:29
don't have anything to hide us attorneys painted a picture of a woman who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted
00:37:37
well I feel like the dumbest most manipulated woman on the entire planet if this is true yes and what she wanted
00:37:45
was a little girl named Willow and do you believe Holly Elkins was a puppet master in all of this 100% I do she
00:37:54
orchestrated this whole thing I think Holly is wicked I think she's wicked to the core
00:38:03
that she would ever want this to happen to another woman to a mother to a mother
00:38:08
of the child that she had come to love what if these two had never come together Holly and Andrew would Andrew
00:38:16
have committed this murder I I don't think they would have I don't 100 100% believe that if Holly and Andrew had
00:38:25
never met that Alyssa briette would be alive today after a onewe trial the case went
00:38:32
to the jury the jury takes just 90 minutes to deliberate when they come back to that courtroom what is the
00:38:40
verdict guilty Holly was found guilty and sentenced to two life terms much longer
00:38:49
than Andrew for alysa's family the verdict was a Bittersweet Victory I was thrilled but heart broken at the same
00:38:59
time I'm so happy that Alissa is getting the Justice she deserved but at that point it's over our fight is
00:39:06
over two families are left to Grapple with the wreckage Holly Elkins and Andrew beard Left
00:39:14
Behind lazette Bowers will forever be known as the mother of a murderer he killed
00:39:23
someone and that is beyond awful it's the worst thing anyone can do but that's not who I
00:39:31
love and Teresa and Madison must try to make sense of a world without Alyssa in it we don't get to live the normal life
00:39:42
anymore it was always me and her my best friend like that was my person and only
00:39:48
getting to be with her for 20 years that's not just not fair after the trial Teresa was allowed
00:39:56
to take things out of her car it was pretty emotional for all of us actually this was the mirror that she used so she
00:40:05
could see Willow from the driver's seat you know just knowing that was the last place she was
00:40:14
sitting when it happened I want mama Willow who was with Teresa had never cried over her mother
00:40:24
until that day she was crying asking me if I could please bring her mom back just so she could see her one more time
00:40:34
and I tried to explain to her that she's in heaven and then she asked me if she had a phone number in
00:40:43
heaven one day Willow will learn the whole story of what happened to her mother do you know what this
00:40:51
is Will Tree yeah and when that time comes her hopes Willow will see the beauty in alysa's
00:41:00
life not the tragedy of her death I hope that one day she grows up and she feels
00:41:08
the love that her mom sincerely had for [Music] her you've probably heard of the NCIS
00:41:24
from the hit TV series but we're about to take you inside its real life work listen to 48 Hours NCIS early and AD
00:41:33
free on the 48 Hours Plus subscription on Apple podcasts as a kid growing up in Chicago
00:41:39
there was one horror movie I was too scared to watch it was called Candyman but did you know that the movie Candyman
00:41:45
was partly inspired by an actual murder listen to Candyman the true story behind
00:41:50
the bathroom mirror murder wherever you get your podcasts

Badges

This episode stands out for the following:

  • 90
    Most heartbreaking
  • 85
    Most shocking
  • 85
    Biggest twist
  • 80
    Most emotional

Episode Highlights

  • Detective's Determination
    Detective Harding vows Andrew Beard will not escape justice.
    “He can not get away with this”
    @ 03m 01s
    November 21, 2024
  • A Mother's Dream
    Teresa Collard dreams of her daughter Alyssa, feeling joy and sadness.
    “I was hysterically happy that I was seeing her”
    @ 04m 14s
    November 21, 2024
  • Custody Battle Tensions
    The custody battle between Alyssa and Andrew escalates, leading to fear and paranoia.
    “She was terrified”
    @ 10m 46s
    November 21, 2024
  • Alyssa's Fears
    Alyssa expresses her fears of being harmed in a text to her friend.
    “He is going to try to get someone to kill me next”
    @ 16m 39s
    November 21, 2024
  • Andrew's Calm Demeanor
    During a traffic stop, Andrew Beard appears unfazed despite the circumstances.
    “He was very calm, he wasn't amped up”
    @ 18m 52s
    November 21, 2024
  • Andrew Beard's Guilty Plea
    Andrew Beard admitted to killing Alysa, shocking his mother with the news.
    “I'm going to plead guilty.”
    @ 25m 47s
    November 21, 2024
  • Holly Elkins Arrested
    Holly Elkins was arrested at Miami Airport, charged with conspiracy to stalk and murder.
    “An Arrest A Long Time Coming for Alysa's family.”
    @ 35m 26s
    November 21, 2024
  • Guilty Verdict for Holly
    Holly was found guilty and sentenced to two life terms, much longer than Andrew.
    “The verdict was a Bittersweet Victory.”
    @ 38m 43s
    November 21, 2024

Episode Quotes

  • I just lost it at that point.
    The Plot to Eliminate Alyssa Burkett | Full Episode
  • She was terrified.
    The Plot to Eliminate Alyssa Burkett | Full Episode
  • I knew that it was him.
    The Plot to Eliminate Alyssa Burkett | Full Episode
  • I'm telling you there's a side of him that you do not know.
    The Plot to Eliminate Alyssa Burkett | Full Episode
  • I think Holly is wicked. I think she's wicked to the core.
    The Plot to Eliminate Alyssa Burkett | Full Episode
  • I was thrilled but heart broken at the same time.
    The Plot to Eliminate Alyssa Burkett | Full Episode

Key Moments

  • Alyssa's Loss01:51
  • Dream Encounter04:14
  • Custody Battle10:46
  • Calm Before the Storm18:52
  • Guilty Plea25:47
  • Mother's Grief26:17
  • Manipulation Revealed33:01
  • Child's Future40:48

Words per Minute Over Time

Vibes Breakdown