Justin Smith sentenced to life for killing pregnant girlfriend

Justin Smith, 28, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2021 murder of his pregnant girlfriend, 21-year-old Dianna Brice. In addition to the life sentence, Smith received a consecutive term of 40 to 80 years for charges including first-degree murder, arson, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence.

Prosecutors stated that Smith shot Brice 11 times in the head while in a vehicle between University City and Kensington. Brice was 14 weeks pregnant at the time of her death. Following the killing, Smith enlisted the help of Tylydia Garnett to dispose of the body in an abandoned lot in Eastwick and subsequently set his vehicle on fire in Cobbs Creek. Garnett was previously sentenced to up to two years in prison for her involvement.

Smith remained a fugitive for several years before being apprehended in Atlanta in March 2025. During his trial, Smith testified that the shooting was accidental during an argument, but investigators used cellphone records, video footage, and ballistic evidence to secure his conviction.