Maurice Kelso Smith, 32, was found guilty of the 2020 capital murder of Darionne Burley, his pregnant girlfriend carrying their twin boys, by a Tarrant County jury on Monday.
As a consequence of the conviction, Smith received an automatic life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole.
The tragic incident occurred on June 29, 2020, when Smith and Burley were last seen leaving a Waffle House in the Fort Worth area. Shortly after, Smith fatally shot Burley in the back of the head, resulting in her immediate death along with the deaths of their unborn babies, as reported by the Tarrant County DA’s office.
In an effort to evade capture, Smith fled to Mansfield after the murder, where he proceeded to rob a woman at gunpoint to steal her vehicle. Upon abandoning his car at the scene of the robbery, authorities discovered Burley’s body in the passenger seat.
Subsequently, detectives apprehended Smith at his residence as he attempted to clean the stolen vehicle and eliminate evidence of the crime. Investigations revealed that Smith had committed another attempted robbery at the same location. Police recovered his blood-stained clothes and the murder weapon.
It was revealed that Smith had illegally obtained the firearm the day before the incident. Ballistic evidence conclusively linked the firearm to the shell casing found in the vehicle with Burley.
Despite the couple’s prior joy at a gender reveal party in May, the jury learned of Smith’s assault on Burley in early June and his heavy drug use during that time.
Assistant District Attorney Kate Hinojosa emphasized the concern expressed by Burley’s friends and family for her safety in June 2020, which tragically proved valid.
The jury also heard that Smith feigned intoxication and memory loss during his brief hospitalization after his arrest. Assistant District Attorney Allena Bangs highlighted Smith’s acknowledgment of his crime and the irreversible consequences he faced.
In statements following the verdict, the Burley family conveyed that there were no winners in this tragic situation and elaborated on the potential future they had envisioned for Darionne and their family, which was cut short by Smith’s actions.
