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.”
A capital murder conviction. pic.twitter.com/yh6eLy6QBX
— Tarrant County CDA (@TarrantCountyDA) March 4, 2024
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.
