Man Wanted For Killing Pregnant Delco Mother Found In Georgia

LANSDOWNE, PA — A man wanted in the 2021 killing of his pregnant girlfriend in Philadelphia has been taken into custody in Georgia, police said.

Justin Smith, 26, was arrested Sunday by the Atlanta Police Department. He is accused of killing his girlfriend Dianna Brice, 21, of Lansdowne, then dumping her body in Philadelphia. Brice was three moths pregnant and the mother of a 4-year-old child when she was killed, authorities said.

Her body was found April 5, 2021, on the 5800 block of Eastwick Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia. Police said she had multiple gunshot wounds to the head when she was found.

Upper Darby Police took a missing person report at 11:35 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, regarding Brice, who was last seen at 1 p.m. that day with Smith at K Laundry, 544 Church Lane in Lansdowne. Both were spotted getting into his Ford Fusion. Later that day, Smith's Ford Fusion was found burning in Southwest Philadelphia.

The investigation led police to the 1900 block of E. Westmoreland St. and then to Eastwick Avenue, where Brice's body was found.

An arrest warrant for Smith was issued on April 9, 2021, in connection to Brice's homicide.

Not long after the warrant was issued, the FBI joined the hunt for Smith.

On Sunday, Atlanta Police stopped a vehicle on the 800 block of Oak Street for an expired registration. The driver, later identified as Smith, led officers on a vehicle pursuit followed by a foot chase before being apprehended.

Smith is being held on murder charges and will be extradited to Philadelphia to face prosecution, police said.

Tylydia Garnett, 26, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty in 2023 to arson, abuse of a corpse, destroying evidence, and conspiracy for her role in Brice's killing.