PHILADELPHIA, PA – A man from Pennsylvania, long sought after in a 2021 murder case, has been apprehended in Georgia. Justin Smith, 26, is charged with the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, Dianna Brice, 21, whose body was discovered in a wooded area of southwest Philadelphia.
Authorities say they found Smith after he was stopped for driving a vehicle with an expired registration in Atlanta. He allegedly attempted to flee but was captured on foot shortly thereafter. Smith is set to be extradited to Pennsylvania, where he will face charges related to Brice’s murder.
The case dates back to March 30, 2021, when Brice was last seen with Smith at a laundromat in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. Her remains were later discovered not far from Smith’s car, which had been set on fire. At the time of her death, Brice was 14 weeks pregnant, and her mother has since asserted that Smith was the father of the unborn child.
To date, Tylydiah Garnett is the only individual who has faced legal repercussions related to Brice’s death. Prosecutors stated that she assisted Smith in concealing Brice’s body and evading law enforcement.
Garnett, who admitted to driving Smith to Florida, was sentenced in September 2023 to a prison term of 11 1/2 to 23 months, followed by probation.
During the court proceedings, Garnett testified that her actions were motivated by fear that Smith would harm her and her relatives. Despite her reasoning, Judge Rosemarie Defino emphasized the gravity of her role in facilitating Smith’s escape, leading to her conviction on charges of arson, abuse of a corpse, and hindering apprehension.
Authorities believe that with Smith’s capture, justice may finally be served for Brice and her unborn child. The case continues to be closely monitored as Smith faces trial upon his return to Pennsylvania.
Community members and Brice’s family await further developments, hopeful that the forthcoming legal proceedings will bring closure to a case that has haunted them for two years.