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    Jury Only Needed An Hour

    The Woodlands family of the bizarre yoga murder victim revisits the store aftertheir daughter's killer is convicted

    Sarah Rufca
    Nov 4, 2011 | 11:59 am
    • Lululemon Athletica in Bethesda, Md.
      Photo by Jacquelyn Martin/AP
    • Victim Jayna Murray
    • Brittany Norwood could be sentenced to life in prison for the murder.

    Jurors in Maryland convicted a woman of murdering her coworker, Jayna Murray, in a crime so brutal and so bizarre that it drew national attention.

    Murray, a native of The Woodlands, was working at yoga clothing retailer LuluLemon Athletica in Bethesda with Brittany Norwood when the attack took place on March 11.

    After Murray conducted a routine check of Norwood's bag and found stolen merchandise, Norwood lured Murray back to the store after closing and brutally attacked her, prosecutors said, inflicting more than 300 "stabbing, cutting, beating and choking wounds" using a half-dozen weapons.

    Norwood then staged a scene to suggest the attack was committed by intruders, including tracking fake footprints in Murray's blood, staging her own injuries and tying herself up to wait until police arrived.

    After a six-day trial, jurors deliberated for only an hour before declaring Norwood guilty of first-degree murder, a charge that could carry a sentence of life in prison.

    Norwood's attorneys had argued that the crime was not premeditated but that she "lost it" and was only guilty of second-degree murder, which would have carried a maximum sentence of 30 years.

    As the verdict was read on Wednesday, Murray's parents, David and Phyllis Murray, broke into tears, according to the Baltimore Sun. The Murrays — who still live in Texas — made a surprise visit to the LuluLemon store where their daughter was brutally murdered the next day to visit with friends of Jayna Murray and do some shopping.

    "We came down to do Christmas shopping," Phyllis Murray told NBC Washington. "We always received Lululemon gifts under the tree. This year will not be any different."

    The store visit concluded a heart-wrenching trip for the Murrays, who also spent some time in the back of the store where their daughter's body was found.

    "More than anything, I know the trauma our family has been through," Phyllis Murray told The Sun after the trial. "I want no other family to go through this."

    unspecified
    news/city-life

    This Week's Hot Headlines

    Promising Houston restaurant's surprise shutter leads our top stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Feb 14, 2026 | 11:00 am
    Succulent Fine Dining Exterior
    Succulent Fine Dining/Facebook
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    Editor's note: It's time to catch up on the top Houston news of the week, beginning with two sudden restaurant closures, followed by four exciting openings. Read on for our most popular stories, then visit our guide to the best weekend events.

    1. Parking problems shutter Houston restaurant after less than a year. A promising Houston restaurant has closed after less than a year. Succulent Fine Dining served its last meal on February 5.

    2. Houston barbecue joint will soon shutter due to $72,000 of unpaid rent. Unpaid rent is forcing a Houston barbecue joint to shutter its brick-and-mortar location, but the restaurant’s popular catering business will live on.

    3. Exclusive: Houston restaurateur brings two new Italian spots to Montrose. A veteran Houston restaurateur has claimed a prime Montrose location for two new establishments. Brasserie 19 owner Charles Clark will expand his portfolio with two Italian restaurants, a fast casual eatery, called Carlo, and a fine dining concept, called Casa Carlo.

    Casa Carlo Michael Hoffman Davide De Angelis Charles Clark Michael Hoffman, Davide De Angelis, and Charles Clark are partnering on Carlo and Casa Carlo. Photo by Kennon Evett

    4. Michelin-recognized Houston sushi chef fires up 4-seat Japanese skewer spot. The team behind one of Houston’s Michelin-recognized sushi restaurants is opening an intimate new izakaya. Sip & Skewer is the newest concept from Hidden Omakase owner Tuan Tran and chef Marcos Juarez.

    5. Iconic Houston Tex-Mex restaurant will reopen in new Third Ward project. An iconic Houston Tex-Mex restaurant that closed in 2023 will return to service next year. Spanish Village will reopen as part of a new development on its former site on Almeda Road.

    most popular storiesclosingsopeningstop stories
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