Who Is Andrew Beard & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

Andrew Charles Beard is the Texas man who admitted to murdering his former girlfriend, Alyssa Burkett, in a carefully planned attack outside her workplace in Carrollton, Texas, on October 2, 2020. The case gained national attention because the murder stemmed from a bitter custody dispute over the couple’s young daughter, Willow, and because investigators later uncovered an extensive conspiracy involving Beard and his fiancée, Holly Elkins.

Once described as a successful salesman and devoted father, Beard’s life took a dramatic turn as his conflict with Alyssa intensified. Prosecutors later argued that his desire to gain complete control of his daughter’s upbringing, combined with the influence of Holly Elkins, led him to commit one of the most brutal custody-related murders in recent Texas history.

Who Is Andrew Beard?

Andrew Beard was approximately ten years older than Alyssa Burkett and worked as a power tools salesman in North Texas. He met Alyssa online, and the two eventually had a daughter together in 2019. Although their romantic relationship ended, they remained connected through co-parenting responsibilities and ongoing custody proceedings involving their daughter Willow.

Friends and family members described the custody battle as contentious. Beard sought greater custody rights, while Alyssa fought to remain an active and primary presence in her daughter’s life. Court filings and testimony later showed that the dispute became the central focus of Beard’s life during the months leading up to the murder.

The Campaign Against Alyssa

Before the murder, Beard and Holly Elkins engaged in a sustained campaign designed to portray Alyssa as an unfit mother. Investigators discovered that the pair installed a GPS tracker on Alyssa’s vehicle, filed false police reports, and attempted to plant drugs and a firearm in her car. The goal was to create evidence that could be used against her during custody proceedings.

Federal prosecutors later described the conduct as a “campaign of terror.” Evidence showed that Beard and Elkins spent months monitoring Alyssa’s movements and looking for ways to damage her reputation. When those efforts failed to achieve the outcome they wanted, investigators concluded that the pair began planning her murder.

The Murder of Alyssa Burkett

On the morning of October 2, 2020, Beard used a GPS tracker to follow Alyssa to her workplace at the Greentree Apartments leasing office in Carrollton. Wearing a disguise that included dark makeup and a fake beard, he approached her vehicle shortly after she arrived for work.

Beard shot Alyssa through her car window. When she managed to escape from the vehicle and run for help, he chased her and launched a second attack with a knife. The assault left Alyssa dead at the scene. Investigators later recovered the disguise, surveillance evidence, DNA evidence, and the abandoned SUV used in the crime, all of which linked Beard directly to the murder.

Guilty Plea and Cooperation

Beard was arrested shortly after the murder. Although he initially secured release on bond, federal authorities later took over the case after investigators discovered an illegal silencer during a search of his home. This allowed prosecutors to pursue federal charges carrying substantial prison time.

Rather than proceed to trial, Beard pleaded guilty in 2022 to stalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in death and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. As part of his plea agreement, he cooperated with federal investigators and provided extensive information about Holly Elkins’ role in the conspiracy. He told FBI agents that Elkins helped plan the crime, purchased materials used in the disguise, and pressured him to carry out the murder.

Sentencing and Prison Term

In May 2023, a federal judge sentenced Beard to 43 years in federal prison. Because the sentence was imposed in the federal system, parole is not available. The sentence ensures that Beard will spend decades behind bars for his role in Alyssa’s death.

Federal prosecutors noted that Beard’s actions not only killed Alyssa but also left his daughter without either parent. During sentencing proceedings, the government emphasized the months of stalking, harassment, and planning that preceded the murder.

Where Is Andrew Beard Now?

As of 2026, Andrew Beard remains incarcerated in the federal prison system serving his 43-year sentence. Multiple reports indicate that he is housed at the United States Penitentiary in Tucson, Arizona, although inmate locations can change over time within the Bureau of Prisons. His projected release date has been reported as February 6, 2058.

Even if he serves his full sentence and is released on that date, Beard would be well into his seventies. For now, he remains in federal custody while Holly Elkins serves two life sentences for her role in orchestrating the conspiracy that led to Alyssa Burkett’s murder.

The Lasting Impact

The murder of Alyssa Burkett remains one of the most shocking domestic violence and custody-related homicide cases in Texas. Investigators have pointed to the case as an example of how stalking, coercive control, and obsessive behavior can escalate into deadly violence when left unchecked.

Today, Beard’s daughter Willow is being raised by family members who continue to honor Alyssa’s memory. While the convictions of both Beard and Elkins brought a measure of justice, Alyssa’s family has repeatedly said that no sentence can restore the future that was taken from a young mother whose only goal was to raise her daughter.

More “The Plot to Eliminate Alyssa Burkett”

• “The Plot to Eliminate Alyssa Burkett”: 48 Hours Reports June 6 2026
• Who Was Alyssa Burkett & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Holly Elkins & Where Is She Now? 2026 Update & Profile