A young adult has been found guilty of murder for orchestrating a heinous scheme to rob and kill his girlfriend’s grandmother.
Uriah Lee Urick Jr. was convicted on Friday, November 7, for the February murder of 61-year-old Tammy King, his girlfriend’s grandmother. Throughout the trial, prosecutors presented evidence including text messages and digital communications that detailed Urick’s planning of the robbery and murder, allegedly in collaboration with his girlfriend, Tara King, who was 17 years old at the time.
The court was shown messages where the teenagers discussed their intentions to abduct and murder Tammy while stealing her money, drugs, and firearms. Additionally, the couple falsely accused Tammy of mistreating them.
Prosecutors pointed out various messages as evidence of premeditation. In one conversation, the teens mentioned possessing ammunition that could penetrate skin and planned to carry out the murder at a specific time. They also exchanged messages indicating their readiness to act. Urick referred to the murder as a significant event for their future, as per reports.
According to prosecutors, Tammy was shot in the head on February 5 at her residence in Bacliff, located approximately 30 minutes from Galveston, Texas. Her body was discovered days later during a welfare check hidden under blankets.
Investigators alleged that following the murder, the teenagers stole cash from a secure box or safe, leading to an elevated charge of capital murder. They also discovered substantial amounts of money transferred from Tammy’s bank account to Tara’s Cash App.
Court documents disclosed that Urick’s mother informed authorities that she believed her son was capable of committing murder, citing Tara’s animosity towards her grandmother for not allowing Urick to stay overnight. Urick’s stepfather also expressed concerns about Urick’s violent tendencies.
After the murder, Urick and Tara reportedly hitchhiked and sought shelter with individuals they met online before being apprehended in Laredo, near the US-Mexico border, on February 9.
A witness testified that he had driven the couple to Laredo and dropped them off at a homeless shelter. He revealed that Urick offered him money and mentioned struggling with the smell of burning flesh during the journey. The witness later assisted authorities in locating the murder weapons.
Defense attorney Bill Agnew argued that the killing was not premeditated but the consequence of two inexperienced, drug-influenced teenagers pursuing independence rather than monetary gain. He contended that prosecutors failed to establish robbery as a motive. In Texas, a capital murder conviction results in an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole.
“Justice has been served for Tammy King and her family,” remarked Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen following the verdict. Tara King also faces charges of capital murder and is set to stand trial in January 2026.
