Bastrop, Tx–A McDade teenager pleaded guilty today to the murder of her mother, Tracy Bellard, and was sentenced to 12 years in an adult state prison.
During a brief appearance before 423rd District Judge Chris Duggan, Hailey Bellard pleaded guilty in the August 2009 shooting death of her mother at their McDade home. Duggan accepted a plea agreement negotiated between prosecutors and defense lawyers in the case. Hailey Bellard was 14 at the time of the shooting.
Investigators believe Tracy Belllard 42, was killed after she attempted to interfere with a romantic relationship between her daughter and Joseph D. Douglas, who was 18 at the time. Douglas pleaded guilty to murder last year and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
After a hearing last year Judge Duggan ruled that Hailey Bellard could be tried as an adult. She was subsequently ordered to stand trial for murder by a Bastrop County grand jury.
The most dramatic moment of the Feb. 25 proceeding came when Hailey Bellard’s grandmother, Yolanda Warren, addressed her directly after the judge pronounced sentence. “I still love you, you’re all I’ve got left,” said Warren, “but I can’t forgive you, not yet. There was no reason for it (the murder). If (the situation) was that bad you could have come to any of us (for help).”
“I wish you could bell me why and what happened,” the grandmother added.
Tags: teen murderers