Seabrook crime: Man arrested for allegedly stabbing woman to death in her apartment earlier this month

The man charged with the murder of a mother in a Seabrook apartment earlier this month has been taken into custody, the police chief confirms.

Harris County court records show Dawayland Earnest Hurst, 22, is charged with the murder of Mary Jayne Collins.

Hurst was arrested in Texas City on Monday, records show.

Dewayland Hurst

Collins, 23, was found dead in an apartment in the 2400 block of Repsdorph Road on October 4. Police say two young children were also found inside the apartment but were OK.

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Police say an autopsy later determined that Collins sustained blunt force trauma and had been stabbed once in the upper body.

According to court documents, Collins and Hurst began a dating relationship in June of 2024. The father of one of Collins' children was Michael King. King was convicted for the murder of Diajwan Triplett, who was the half-brother of Hurst.

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Mary Jayne Collins

There were numerous incidents of alleged abuse reported by the victim to family and friends. Records state she once appeared at her grandmother's home with a bite mark on her face she said was caused by Hurst. Collins would also text and video call her friends showing her scratches and injuries.

According to police, the investigation determined that Hurst had been inside of her apartment at the time of the incident, and authorities believe he assaulted one of her children minutes before officers arrived at the scene.

On Oct. 4, the day of Collins's murder, documents report Hurst answered a call from the father of one of Collins' children while in the victim's apartment. During the video, Hurst abuses the child and Collins can be heard saying, "no, get away, baby, no get away from him," in the background.

Collins' friends saw a Facebook post believed to be made by King's mother asking for someone to check on Collins and called police, investigators say. One friend also informed the Seabrook Police Department that Hurst allegedly had a gun and Collins's grandmother received a video of Hurst pointing a gun, saying he was going to kill Collins.

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When Seabrook police arrived, they found Collins' two children in the apartment safe, but the mother was found dead with a stab wound.

Video footage was seen by detectives showing Hurst leaving the scene, trying to take an evasive path for 25 minutes, changing directions multiple times while also going through different nearby properties.

Detectives believe Hurst abused and murdered Collins out of revenge for King killing his half-brother, Triplett.

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