HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Officials have now identified both the victim and the suspect after a 21-year-old woman was found shot to death inside a home near Crosby on Monday afternoon.
The suspect, identified as Courtney Smith, 55, has been charged with murder in connection with Murphy’s death.
Arrest update:
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) May 19, 2026
The victim has been identified as Maysie Murphy (21).
The defendant has been identified as Courtney Smith (5-5-71). @HCSOTexas Homicide Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators responded to the scene and conducted their investigation. Smith was charged with… https://t.co/gb7EcLhwYH pic.twitter.com/MLYcbOVmBC
According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the victim has been identified as Maysie Murphy, 21.
Deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for service Sunday afternoon at a residence in the 17800 block of Adlong Johnson Road near U.S. 90.
Major Katrib with HCSO said Monday night that the investigation began around 3:48 p.m. after a woman called and requested to meet with deputies.
When HCSO officials arrived, the woman allegedly told them she had killed her granddaughter and her granddaughter’s boyfriend.
Authorities also said Murphy was not biologically related to Smith, despite the suspect initially referring to her as her granddaughter. Investigators believe the two were acquaintances who were both living at the home at the time of the shooting.
OUR FIRST REPORT: Deputies find woman shot to death inside Crosby home after female suspect tells deputies she killed her
Deputies entered the home and found Murphy dead with apparent gunshot wounds.
Investigators said they did not locate a male victim at the scene and later determined there was no evidence that a boyfriend had been involved.
According to investigators, the homeowners were out of town during the incident. Authorities previously said Smith may have been someone the homeowners met online and later allowed to stay at the residence.
Investigators also revealed there had been an earlier call to the home around 1:30 p.m. Sunday. During that call, Smith allegedly told dispatchers she was “seeing demons.”
Deputies responded, but officials said there was not enough information at the time to justify an emergency detention order.
Courtney Smith was later arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail on a murder charge. Records show a judge ordered that Smith be denied bail.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office at 713-221-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.