Man Sentenced to Life for Shooting Pregnant Girlfriend in Head 11 Times, Killing Her and Unborn Baby

A Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after being convicted of killing his pregnant girlfriend, 21-year-old Dianna Brice, in 2021.

Justin Smith, 28, was convicted Friday, 28 August, of first-degree murder in Brice's death and third-degree murder in the death of their unborn child.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced Smith's conviction and sentence on Monday, 31 August, describing Brice as 'someone he claimed to love.'

Brice had been reported missing from Upper Darby Township on 30 March 2021, when she was three months pregnant.

Six days later, her body was discovered in an abandoned lot near Eastwick Avenue in Philadelphia. Smith later fled the area and was apprehended in Atlanta in March 2025.

Justin Smith Convicted in Dianna Brice Murder

Smith's conviction came more than five years after Brice was reported missing and later found dead. Prosecutors argued that Smith was responsible for Brice's death and presented evidence concerning his actions after the shooting.

The case also involved the death of Brice's unborn child. Smith was convicted of first-degree murder in Brice's death and third-degree murder in the death of their unborn child. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without parole, along with an additional consecutive sentence of 40 to 80 years.

Krasner announced the conviction and sentence during the 31 August news conference. He described Brice as 'someone he claimed to love' while discussing the case and its outcome.

Prosecutors Challenged Smith's Accidental Death Claim

During his jury trial, Smith testified that Brice's death was accidental. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Smith said he was arguing with Brice inside his car when he tried to 'pull' a gun away from her and the weapon 'went off.'

Prosecutors rejected Smith's account and presented evidence about what happened after the shooting. They said Smith burned his car, placed Brice's remains in trash bags and disposed of them before going on the run.

Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Lauren Crump challenged Smith's account during the trial. Referring to the actions prosecutors attributed to Smith after the shooting, Crump said, 'That is not panic. That is premeditation.'

Tylydia Garnett, whom prosecutors said helped Smith after Brice's death, also testified that Smith had confessed to shooting Brice.

Garnett had previously pleaded guilty to charges including arson and abuse of a corpse and was sentenced to 11½ to 23 months in prison in connection with the case.

Brice's Family Remembered Her Life

Brice, who was already a mother to a son named AJ, was expecting her second child. According to her obituary, she had planned to hold a gender-reveal party on 29 April 2021 after ordering a kit by mail.

Her obituary described AJ as 'her greatest gift of all' and said he had correctly guessed that he was going to have a baby brother. The planned gender-reveal party was to take place shortly after Brice's death.

'She couldn't wait to find out the gender,' the obituary stated. 'She ordered a kit [through] the mail. The gender reveal was scheduled for April 29th. AJ was right, he was having a little brother.'

The details offered in Brice's obituary highlighted her role as a mother and her plans for her growing family. She was expecting her second child when she was reported missing in March 2021.

Smith Receives Life Sentence Without Parole

During Monday's news conference, Brice's mother, Betty Cellini, referred to Smith and said: 'I will never, ever forgive this man for what he did to my daughter, my unborn grandson and her son [who] is now 9 years old.'

Smith was sentenced to life in prison without parole following his murder convictions, along with an additional consecutive sentence of 40 to 80 years. The sentence means he will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole under the life sentence.

The conviction and sentence came more than five years after Brice's death. Smith had fled the area after Brice's death and remained on the run until he was apprehended in Atlanta in March 2025.

The conviction and sentencing marked the latest stage of the case after prosecutors successfully challenged his account that Brice's death was accidental.

The proceedings followed a criminal case that began with Brice's disappearance in 2021 and ultimately resulted in Smith receiving a life sentence.