Government rests in murder case against former McKinney woman accused of helping fiance kill an ex-girlfriend

In a Dallas Federal Court, the Government has rested in its conspiracy case against a former McKinney woman who is accused of helping her fiance murder an ex-girlfriend .

The trial of 33-year-old Holly Elkins has now shifted to the defense after the government has spent the better part of a week linking her to the 2020 death of Alyssa Burkett.

According to an indictment, Ms. Elkins allegedly helped plot the murder of Andrew Beard’s ex-girlfriend, 24-year-old Alyssa Ann Burkett.

Ms. Burkett was at her Carrollton office in October of 2022 when she was met by the father of her child, Andrew Beard. The two had been in a bitter custody fight over their daughter.

Prosecutors said Beard was disguised as a black man as he jumped out of an SUV he bought and opened fire with a shotgun, before fatally stabbing Burkett.

The Government's star witness in the case against Elkins was an FBI agent who specializes in digital evidence. Agent Pam Hanson showed the jury dozens of text messages, phone records, and online purchases by Elkins for the equipment that Beard used to track and stalk Burkett.

Prosecutors also showed the SUV that Beard used in the crime was purchased specifically as part of the murder to make to look like Burkett was killed in a drug hit.

Beard has pleaded guilty and is serving a 43-year prison term. Elkins was later arrested in Miami. Elkins' lawyers say she was not in on the murder.

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