FORT WORTH -- Convicted murderer Frank Byrd was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for killing Hilary Eaton, a 39-year-old mother of three.
The jury deliberated a little more than an hour before sentencing Byrd, 34, of Haltom City.He was found guilty Friday after the jury deliberated nearly eight hours over two days.His possible sentence ranged from 15 years to life in prison, according to state District Judge Scott Wisch. "This is a senseless murder," prosecutor Sheila Wynn told the jury during closing arguments. "This man was involved in an argument and he couldn't control his temper."Byrd's attorney, David Pearson, agreed."This was a methamphetamine-fueled argument where no one had the rational thought to say, 'Why are we arguing about this?'" Pearson said. "'I can just walk out of the door.'"Eaton's three sons said they will never forgive Byrd for killing their mother, who they said clawed her way out of homelessness and begin her own housecleaning business."You stole from us and anybody who has ever met her and cared about her," son Steven Eaton said during victim impact statements. "Now she's gone and all that's left is a haunting memory. You should have never been allowed to do this to me. I just hope the rest of your life is as miserable as you've made ours."Wynn told the jury about the escalation of Byrd's criminal history, from juvenile convictions to misdemeanor offenses to convictions for aggravated assault and aggravated sexual assault of a child in 1996.He spent 15 years in prison for those convictions. Vickie McCullough, Byrd's mother, testified Friday that she and her son faced challenges, Wynn said.But McCullough faced her drug addition, got counseling and stayed on medications that helped her turn her life around, Wynn told the jury.Byrd's mother did not allow her addiction to turn her toward crime and acts of aggression, Wynn said."It's part of the picture, but it's not an excuse and it does not justify murder," Wynn said. "How many more victims are there going to be?"Eaton was found dead Jan. 7 in her home in the 1300 block of Kings Highway on the Haltom City-Fort Worth border. Byrd's former girlfriend, Nora Price, 33, testified that Byrd had not slept for days because he was high on methamphetamine when he shot Eaton during an argument Jan. 4.The argument ensued after Eaton told Byrd and his girlfriend to get out of her house, Price testified. While they gathered their belongings, Byrd pointed a .22-caliber rifle at Eaton and said he was going to "smoke her." Eaton dared him to pull the trigger, and Byrd shot her in the head, Price testified.Pearson, the defense attorney, encouraged the jury to consider Byrd's history while determining his sentence. Despite his mother's attempts, Byrd did not respond to treatment, Pearson said.Byrd had trouble while growing up and as an adult, said Caroline Kim, who helped prosecute the case."Some people, we have to put them in a place where they can no longer hurt others," Kim said.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
