In one of Texas’s most disturbing family crimes in recent memory, 18-year-old Uriah Lee Urick Jr. has been convicted of capital murder for the brutal killing of 61-year-old Tammy King, the grandmother of his girlfriend, Tara King. On November 7, 2025, a Galveston County jury found Urick guilty, leading to an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole under Texas law. The chilling case has shocked the quiet community of Bacliff, exposing a dark tale of teenage rebellion, meth-fueled rage, and betrayal within a family.

🔪 The Crime: A Premeditated Betrayal in Bacliff, Texas

On February 5, 2025, Tammy King was discovered dead in her Bacliff home, shot in the head and hidden under a pile of blankets. Her residence was ransacked, guns were missing, and digital transfers from her bank account to Tara King’s Cash App hinted at robbery as a motive.

Investigations revealed that Tara, then 17, had grown resentful of her grandmother’s household rules — particularly her refusal to let Urick stay overnight and demands for Tara to attend school. According to evidence, Tara frequently expressed hatred toward her grandmother, even wishing her dead in text messages weeks before the murder.

The pair planned not only to kill Tammy but also to rob her, making the crime a capital offense. Thousands of dollars were transferred and attempted via digital apps after Tammy’s death, and the teens fled across Texas, trying to sell stolen guns and methamphetamine.

💻 Digital Evidence: Texts That Told a Chilling Story

Prosecutors presented a damning collection of digital communications that left little doubt about premeditation.

• Messages between Urick and Tara referenced ammunition “that would shred through skin.”
• The couple planned the killing for 4 a.m., using coded phrases like “We ride at dawn.”
• They fantasized about starting “the rest of our lives” after the murder.

After the killing, Tara allegedly messaged friends claiming her grandmother was “abusive” to justify their escape.

🚨 The Escape and Arrest

Following the murder, Urick and Tara enlisted the help of Travis Hodge, a known meth dealer, who testified that he drove them toward Mexico in exchange for money. The couple cut and dyed their hair, abandoned their dog, and sought rides via Instagram to evade authorities. They were captured on February 9, 2025, in Laredo, by the Gulf Coast Violent Offender Task Force.

⚖️ The Trial and Verdict

The week-long trial in Galveston County captivated viewers through live streams on Court TV and Law & Crime Network. Prosecutors emphasized the cold, calculated nature of the crime, presenting text messages, Cash App transfers, and testimonies as proof of a planned murder for financial gain.

Urick’s defense attorney, Bill Agnew, argued that the killing was an impulsive act by “two naïve, drug-influenced teenagers chasing freedom,” not a robbery-motivated capital crime. Nonetheless, jurors took just three and a half hours to return a guilty verdict. Urick remained emotionless as his life sentence without parole was announced.

Tara King’s capital murder trial is scheduled for January 2026, where she faces the same charge and potential punishment.

🧠 Mental Health, Drugs, and Teen Violence

Court records and family statements painted a troubling portrait of Urick’s mental health. His mother and stepfather testified about his history of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and violent behavior toward siblings — factors the defense used to argue diminished responsibility. However, the prosecution maintained that his actions showed deliberate and calculated intent, not impulsivity.

Methamphetamine use also played a key role, influencing the couple’s mindset and actions. Witnesses claimed Tara admitted they killed Tammy because they were “angry and high on meth.”

📅 Key Timeline of Events

🧾 Key Evidence Summary

💬 Community and Legal Reactions

Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen praised the verdict as justice for Tammy King’s family, calling it a “tragic reminder of how drugs and bad influences can destroy lives.”
The case has sparked online debates about youth accountability, mental health support, and the role of social media in influencing teen behavior.

Residents of Bacliff, a typically quiet Gulf Coast town, remain shaken by the events — a community scarred by a crime that turned a family’s private conflict into a public horror story.

⚖️ The Broader Impact

While justice has been served legally, the emotional and social aftermath continues to resonate. The Uriah Lee Urick Jr. case underscores the dangers of untreated mental health issues, substance abuse, and digital desensitization among teens. As Tara King awaits trial, the story stands as a grim warning of how easily adolescent anger and defiance can escalate into irreversible tragedy.