A Pennsylvania man wanted for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend has been arrested in Atlanta after four years on the run.
Justin Smith, 26, was arrested on Sunday after trying to a flee a traffic stop for driving on an expired registration, WPVI reported. Police eventually chased him down on foot and then learned her was wanted for the murder of 21-year-old Dianna Brice in 2021.
As CrimeOnline reported, Brice was last seen with Smith on March 30, 2021, when she went to pick up prescriptions. But she didn’t return home, and her mother called Smith, who told her he had no idea where she was and hung up angrily when she said she was toing to file a missing persons report.
Hours later, Smith’s car was found burning in southwest Philadelphia — less than a mile from the wooded lot where Brice’s body was eventually found. Investigators also found Smith’s wallet and car keys nearby, but Smith was in the wind.
Police issued a warrant for Smith’s arrest and arrested Tylydiah Garnett, a friend of his, charging her with arson, abuse of a corpse, criminal conspiracy, and other charges. According to KYW, she pleaded guilty, admitting in court that she drove Smith to Florida, saying she feared he would kill her and her loved ones.
She was sentenced in 2023 to 11 1/2 months to 23 months in prison, followed by five years of probation.
Police say Smith shot Brice, who was 14 weeks pregnant, multiple times in the head inside his car, then Garnett helped him dispose of the body — and his car — and took him out of state.
Now he’s awaiting extradition to Philadelphia to face his own charges.
