A teenager in the United States has been handed a life sentence after being found guilty of the capital murder of his girlfriend's grandmother, a killing prosecutors said was meticulously planned.
A Chilling Plot Unfolds
Uriah Lee Urick Jr. was convicted on Friday, 7th November, for the February killing of 61-year-old Tammy King. The court heard how Urick and his then 17-year-old girlfriend, Tara King, hatched a vile scheme to rob and murder Tammy, who was Tara's grandmother.
During the week-long trial, prosecutors presented a raft of digital evidence, including text messages between the pair. These messages allegedly showed them discussing plans to kidnap Tammy, steal her money, methamphetamine, and firearms, and then kill her. The couple also falsely claimed that Tammy was abusing them.
Digital Trail of Premeditation
The prosecution highlighted several disturbing messages to demonstrate the cold-blooded premeditation behind the crime. In one exchange, the teens allegedly wrote about having ammunition that would "shred through skin" and specifically planned to "kill her at 4." Another message stated, "We ride at dawn," and Urick reportedly described the planned murder as "the start of the rest of our lives."
Tammy King was shot in the head on 5th February at her home in Bacliff, Texas, roughly 30 minutes from Galveston. Her body was discovered days later during a welfare check, hidden under a pile of blankets.
Aftermath and Arrest
Following the killing, the teenagers allegedly stole cash from a lockbox or safe, an act that elevated the charge to capital murder. Investigators also found that thousands of dollars had been transferred from Tammy’s bank account to Tara’s Cash App.
Urick and Tara then fled, hitchhiking and staying with people they met on social media before their arrest in Laredo, near the US-Mexico border, on 9th February. A witness testified that he drove the couple to Laredo, during which trip Urick allegedly offered him $1,000 and confessed he "couldn't get the smell of burning flesh" out of his nose.
Court documents revealed that Urick's own mother had told investigators she believed her son was capable of murder, citing that Tara "hated" her grandmother for not allowing Urick to stay overnight. Urick's stepfather also expressed belief in his violent tendencies.
Justice Served
Defence attorney Bill Agnew argued the killing was not premeditated but the result of "two naïve, drug-influenced teenagers chasing independence, not money." However, the jury found Urick guilty of capital murder, which in Texas carries an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen stated after the verdict, "Justice has been served for Tammy King and her loved ones." Tara King has also been charged with capital murder, with her trial scheduled for January 2026.
