FORT WORTH -- A Fort Worth man was found guilty Friday of shooting a woman to death after she opened her home to the man and his girlfriend.
Frank Byrd, 34, was convicted of killing Hillary Eaton, a 39-year-old mother of three sons who had crawled out of homelessness and started her own house cleaning business.The jury deliberated for nearly eight hours over two days before reaching their verdict.The sentencing phase began Friday afternoon.Eaton was found dead Jan. 7 in the house she shared with a boyfriend in the 1300 block of Kings Highway on the border of Fort Worth and Haltom City.Byrd's former girlfriend, Nora Price, 33, testified this week that Eaton had given Byrd and her a place to stay.On Jan. 5, Byrd was coming down from a methamphetamine high, was paranoid and had not slept for several days, Price testified"He heard a noise outside and told Hilary to shush,"Price said. "Hilary said, 'Don't shush me in my house.' "Eaton then asked Byrd about text messages he had sent to her phone from a number she did not recognize, Price said. The argument escalated, and Eaton told Byrd and Price to get out of her house, Price said.Price said she was gathering their belongings when Byrd shot Eaton. They drove away without calling for help. Eaton's body was found three days later.Byrd's criminal record includes convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated sexual assault of a child.Mitch Mitchell, 817-390-7752Twitter: @mitchmitchel3Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
