In a single return, a Dallas County grand jury returned indictments in four major North Texas cases.
Andrew Beard, 33 Rowlett, was indicted for murder in the October 2, 2020 shooting and stabbing of Alyssa Burkett. The attack happened outside Burkett's apartment complex office in broad daylight in front of horrified employees. Witnesses say the attacker appeared to be a Black man. Carrollton police, in an arrest affidavit, believe Beard used makeup to darken his skin.
Burkett had won custody of their young child just days before the attack. The gunman used a dark SUV to escape. Carrollton police found, what they believe, was that vehicle a short distance from Beard's home. What's more the affidavit says investigators found makeup in the vehicle.
Beard was initially jailed on $1-million bond, but he stunned members of Burkett's family when he managed to come up with the money.
But his freedom was short-lived.
While searching Beard's home detectives noted 18 firearms, plus a silencer. Federal authorities seized on the silencer as an illegal weapon and put Beard back in custody, this time as a federal prisoner. He remains behind bars awaiting trial.
Brewery owner Keith Ashley, 48 Allen, was indicted for murder in the Feb. 19, 2020 shooting death of James "Jim" Seegan. He was found in his Carrollton home with a gunshot wound to the head, and suicide note nearby. However, Carrollton police believe the shooting was staged to look like a suicide in an elaborate scheme.
Texas Board of Nursing Examiner records show Ashley holds a license as a registered nurse. He has also done business as a financial advisor, according to police records, and was an owner of the Nine Band Brewery in Allen.
According to an arrest affidavit, Ashley used a drug to paralyze Seegan, then shot him. Police say there were clues that the shooting was not a suicide that were uncovered problems at the scene. For one thing the gun was found on Seegan's left thigh. "He is right-handed and not a gun owner", the affidavit says. Further the suicide note was not signed. Police also found text messages and a "Nest" video doorbell footage that placed Ashley at the scene, according to the affidavit.
The record says Ashley had become the beneficiary of a life insurance policy that Seegan's wife did not know about.
The grand jury added three more capital murder cases to the existing file against accused mass murderer Billy Chemirmir. The new charges make 12 capital murder indictments in Dallas, and another seven in Collin County. Chemirmir, a medical tech, is accused of using pillows to smother elderly women. His first Dallas County case is tentatively set for April.
Anthony Lewis, 17, becomes the third person to be indicted for capital murder in the May 25, 2020 killing of Dallas marketing executive Leslie Baker. Lewis was 16 at the time, but a judge certified him to stand trial in adult court.
Lewis is one of several teenagers whom police shot. Lewis, Antony Isaiah Taylor, 18 and Deng Chen Ajack, 19 were in a stolen vehicle when baker was killed at her home on Royalton lane near Preston Hollow. Several days after the May 25th attack, police in Richardson say Lewis was behind a carjacking that led to a chase and the arrests.
Because of Lewis's age, he cannot face a death penalty trial under Texas law. However, if convicted of capital murder as an adult, he will never be eligible for parole.
