White man 'wears blackface and fake beard to shoot and stab to death mother of his baby daughter amid custody battle'

A white Texas man suspected of ambushing and brutally murdering the mother of his baby daughter allegedly wore blackface and a fake beard as a disguise meant to confuse cops. 

Andrew Beard, 33, of Rowlett, surrendered himself to the police last week and was charged with murder in the October 2 killing of 24-year-old Alyssa Burkett. 

Burkett, who has a one-year-old daughter, Willow, with Beard, was shot in the head and repeatedly stabbed as she arrived to work at the Greentree Apartments in Carrollton at 9am that day. 

Andrew Beard, 33 , has been charged with murder for allegedly shooting and stabbing to death 24-year-old Alyssa Burkett, who was the mother of his baby daughter

Burkett was arriving at her work as a manager at the Greentree Apartments in Carrollton, Texas, on October 2 when she was ambushed by a man in the parking lot  

According to an arrest affidavit cited by The Dallas Morning News, two witnesses described the attacker as a black male who was dressed in all black clothing.

Police later discovered two bottles of dark makeup foundation, wet wipes stained brown, a broken makeup brush and a fake beard in two vehicles that have been linked to Beard.

Other evidence seized by police included cut-up work boots that had been soaked in liquid that smelled like bleach.   

According to investigators, Beard and Burkett had been locked in a contentious legal battle over the custody of their daughter, and the mother had been awarded custody on September 30. 

Burkett had written in the description of a GoFundMe campaign organized last month to help her with legal fees that she was living in fear. 

'At this point, I am scared for my life and my daughters life,' the post stated. 'It has been made clear this man will do whatever it takes to cut me out of the picture and I’m worried that what is coming next will be worse.'

Burkett's campaign has since been converted into a memorial fundraiser to help pay for her funeral. 

Burkett's parents, co-workers and her current boyfriend all said she was afraid that Beard would kill her, according to the affidavit. She also suspected that he was following her. 

At around 9am on October 2, Burkett was arriving at the Carrollton apartment complex where she worked as a manager when a man, initially described by witnesses as African-American, approached her vehicle and opened fire, then stabbed her. 

Burkett and Beard reportedly had been locked in a contentious legal battle over the custody of one-year-old Willow. The mother had been awarded custody on September 30 

Police who responded to the scene found Burkett's co-workers trying to revive her in the parking lot. Despite their efforts, the mother-of-one was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the head and multiple stab wounds. 

Police said early in the investigation they knew it was not a random act of violence, but rather a personal act of vengence. 

'It was clear to our detectives this was someone who was hunting her,' Carrollton Police Spokesperson Jolene DeVito told Fox4. 'Someone who knew where she was going to be and someone who wanted her dead.' 

Investigators later discovered tracking devices on Burkett's vehicle and her boyfriend's car, according to the charging papers. 

Police made contact with Beard and seized his white F-150. Inside, they found a pair of black work boots that had been cut into pieces and allegedly cleaned with bleach, as well as a serrated kitchen knife, a flathead screwdriver and two bottles of liquid foundation for a dark complexion, the affidavit stated.

They also recovered partially burned makeup removal wipes with brown stains on them, and a metal cylinder which 'is consistent with the metal piece of a makeup brush which holds the bristles in place,' according to the documents.

Burkett had written online that she was in fear for her life, and her parents, co-workers and boyfriend all said she was afraid that Beard would kill her, according to an affidavit

Police later tracked down a black Ford Expedition in the 5500 block of Onset Bay Drive in Rowlett. The vehicle's registered owner said she had sold it to a man matching Beard's description on September 26. 

That vehicle was found to contain strands of black hair matted with what appeared to be blood, and a fake beard stained with brown makeup.

Beard turned himself in to the police in Carrollton on October 6 after learning they had obtained a warrant for his arrest on a charge of murder. 

He remained at Dallas County Jail on $1million bond. Beard and Burkett's daughter is in the custody of Texas Child Protective Services.