A capital murder conviction.

He threw her a gender reveal party for their twins. Then he murdered her.
He threw her a gender reveal party for their twins. Then he murdered her.
A Texas man has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, who was pregnant with twin boys. Shockingly, just one month earlier, he had thrown her a gender reveal party.
In May of 2020, Maurice Kelso Smith threw a “joyful” party for Darionne Burley, who was carrying Smith’s twin boys, according to PEOPLE. Yet within weeks, Smith was reportedly using drugs and assaulted Burley. “In June 2020, Darionne’s friends and family were concerned for her safety and it turns out their concerns were valid,” Assistant District Attorney Kate Hinojosa said at the trial. “Because at the end of the month she would be dead at the hands of this Defendant.”
On June 29th, Smith illegally purchased a gun. He and Burley were seen at a Waffle House in Fort Worth, and within an hour of being seen there, Smith shot Burley in the head. Burley and her baby boys died.
Just weeks before she died, Burley wrote on Facebook that she was dedicated to building the best life possible for her babies. “Having two boys on the way I look at my entire life differently,” she wrote, adding,”[I don’t care] who said what, or who did what…. I’m so focused on being a better me for my two that I can’t even entertain the distractions! MY BABIES NEED THEY MAMA.”
After murdering Burley, Smith tried to escape by carjacking a vehicle at gunpoint. The carjacking victim said Smith had left another car in a parking lot, which police found; inside that car was Burley’s body. Police also found a wallet with a sonogram picture of the twin boys. At Smith’s home, they found him trying to clean the stolen car and get rid of evidence. Police also found bloody clothes and the gun used to murder Burley.
Smith then tried to again escape the consequences for his actions by faking a drug overdose while in police custody. While in the hospital, he was caught trying to pick the lock on his handcuffs.
After being found guilty, Smith was sentenced to life in prison, though he is appealing the verdict. Burley’s family addressed Smith in court, saying there were “no winners” in the situation.
Editor’s Note: If you are a victim of domestic violence, please visit thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-SAFE.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
Read Next

51 senators ask the FDA to stop allowing mail-order abortions
Cassy Cooke
·More In Analysis

Analysis
American man receives organ harvested from Canadian man killed by MAiD
Cassy Cooke
·
Analysis
Approximately one-fourth of each generation since Roe has been lost to abortion
Carole Novielli
·
Analysis
UK outlet's 'gotcha' piece on pro-life post-abortion help misses the mark
Nancy Flanders
·
Politics
Catholics need to know the truth: Being an accessory to abortion is evil
Nancy Flanders
·
Analysis
Planned Parenthood facilities continue to close as it shifts toward online business
Cassy Cooke
·More From Cassy Cooke

Abortion Pill
51 senators ask the FDA to stop allowing mail-order abortions
Cassy Cooke
·
Politics
Prime Minister of Spain calls for draconian 'blacklist' of doctors who refuse to commit abortions
Cassy Cooke
·
International
Disability advocate barred from participating in Scotland assisted suicide debate
Cassy Cooke
·
Politics
Planned Parenthood still warring against 'common sense' Nevada parental notification
Cassy Cooke
·
International
Spain moves to make abortion a constitutional 'right'
Cassy Cooke
·