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Pennsylvania man gets life in prison for murdering pregnant girlfriend
A Philadelphia man was sentenced last week to life without parole after he murdered his pregnant girlfriend and preborn baby in 2021 by shooting her 12 times.
Justin Smith was convicted of first degree murder and third degree murder for the 2021 killing of Dianna Brice and her preborn child.
Brice was 14 weeks pregnant when her body was found dumped in a parking lot with 12 gunshot wounds.
Smith killed Brice in a vehicle before enlisting a friend to help dispose of her body. He then set his car on fire.
Smith remained on the run for four years before being apprehended in Atlanta in 2025.
Justin Smith was sentenced to life in prison on August 31 after he was convicted of first degree murder for the killing of Dianna Brice, and third degree murder for the death of her preborn child, along with a number of other charges.
Brice was 14 weeks pregnant with Smith's child when she was reported missing on March 30, 2021. Her body was found six days later in a parking lot in Philadelphia; she had 12 gunshot wounds, including 11 to the head.
Investigators learned that Brice was last seen getting into a car with Smith. That car was later found abandoned and set on fire.
According to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, authorities used cell phone records to determine Smith killed Brice somewhere between University City and Kensington. He enlisted the help of his friend, Tylydia Garnett, to dispose of Brice's body; surveillance video shows the duo putting something heavy, later determined to be Brice's body, into Garnett's trunk. Smith then used gasoline to set fire to his own vehicle.
Smith remained on the run for four years before he was apprehended in Atlanta in March 2025. He was sentenced to the mandatory life without parole as well as 40-80 years consecutive.
“This was a heinous crime carried out by this defendant, taking the life of not only Ms. Brice but of her unborn child. Justin Smith may have thought he got away with it, but he will now spend the rest of his life thinking about his actions,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said. “I want to thank Assistant District Attorneys Lauren Crump and Trey Flynn for their successful prosecution and hope that it brings her family and friends a sense of closure.”
Homicide remains a leading cause of death for pregnant women. Though news reports don't offer a motive in this instance, women are often killed when they refuse to abort their preborn children.
When abortion is normalized, as it is today, women are more at risk for standing up to abusive men who pressure them to choose abortion.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
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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!
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·Investigative·By Bridget Sielicki
Pennsylvania man gets life in prison for murdering pregnant girlfriend
A Philadelphia man was sentenced last week to life without parole after he murdered his pregnant girlfriend and preborn baby in 2021 by shooting her 12 times.
Justin Smith was convicted of first degree murder and third degree murder for the 2021 killing of Dianna Brice and her preborn child.
Brice was 14 weeks pregnant when her body was found dumped in a parking lot with 12 gunshot wounds.
Smith killed Brice in a vehicle before enlisting a friend to help dispose of her body. He then set his car on fire.
Smith remained on the run for four years before being apprehended in Atlanta in 2025.
Justin Smith was sentenced to life in prison on August 31 after he was convicted of first degree murder for the killing of Dianna Brice, and third degree murder for the death of her preborn child, along with a number of other charges.
Brice was 14 weeks pregnant with Smith's child when she was reported missing on March 30, 2021. Her body was found six days later in a parking lot in Philadelphia; she had 12 gunshot wounds, including 11 to the head.
Investigators learned that Brice was last seen getting into a car with Smith. That car was later found abandoned and set on fire.
According to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, authorities used cell phone records to determine Smith killed Brice somewhere between University City and Kensington. He enlisted the help of his friend, Tylydia Garnett, to dispose of Brice's body; surveillance video shows the duo putting something heavy, later determined to be Brice's body, into Garnett's trunk. Smith then used gasoline to set fire to his own vehicle.
Smith remained on the run for four years before he was apprehended in Atlanta in March 2025. He was sentenced to the mandatory life without parole as well as 40-80 years consecutive.
“This was a heinous crime carried out by this defendant, taking the life of not only Ms. Brice but of her unborn child. Justin Smith may have thought he got away with it, but he will now spend the rest of his life thinking about his actions,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said. “I want to thank Assistant District Attorneys Lauren Crump and Trey Flynn for their successful prosecution and hope that it brings her family and friends a sense of closure.”
Homicide remains a leading cause of death for pregnant women. Though news reports don't offer a motive in this instance, women are often killed when they refuse to abort their preborn children.
When abortion is normalized, as it is today, women are more at risk for standing up to abusive men who pressure them to choose abortion.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
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!
Cassy Cooke
·Issues
Sheena Rodriguez
·Investigative
Kelli Keane
·Investigative
Isabella Doer
·Investigative
Cassy Cooke
·Investigative
Nancy Flanders
·Issues
Bridget Sielicki
·International
Bridget Sielicki
·Abortion Pill
Bridget Sielicki
·Pop Culture
Bridget Sielicki
·Human Interest
Bridget Sielicki
·