A man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Friday for the 2021 murder of his pregnant girlfriend in Philadelphia, according to court records. Justin Smith, 28, was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder, as well as arson, abuse of a corpse and other relate d crimes on Friday, Aug. 28, according to court records. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522. Smith was taken into custody in March 2025 after getting stopped in Atlanta for an expired registration. Officials said that, at the time of his arrest, along the 800 block of Oak Street in Atlanta, Ga., Smith attempted to run from officers but was placed in police custody after a foot chase. Police in Philadelphia have been searching for Smith since April of 2021 after he was accused of killing his pregnant then-girlfriend, Dianna Brice, 21. Dianna Brice went missing from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, in late March. According to police, Brice was reported missing on March 30, 2021 after being last seen with Smith at the K Laundry on the 500 block of Church Lane in Lansdowne. Her remains were later discovered along the 5800 block of Eastwick Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia. Brice, who was three-months pregnant at the time of her death, died after she had been shot in the head multiple times, officials have said. Her body was also burned along with her car, officials said. Smith, in addition to his prison term, was ordered to pay $10,244.19 in restitution, which will be payed in $25 installments starting in Oct. 2026, according to court documents. ...read more read less