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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."

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    news/city-life

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    Here's what it takes to be middle class in Houston and more top stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Mar 7, 2026 | 11:00 am
    Downtown Houston skyline
    Photo by Dennis Lamberth on Unsplash
    Who needs a raise?

    Editor's note: It's time to catch up on the top Houston news of the week, including a host of openings and what it takes to maintain middle class status in Houston this year. Catch up on our hottest headlines below, then visit this guide to plan your weekend.

    1. This is the income it takes to be middle class in Houston in 2026. A new study tracking the upper and lower thresholds for middle class households has revealed Houstonians have to make at least a grand more than last year to maintain their middle class status.

    2. Houston restaurateur dishes on swapping Tex-Mex for new retro steakhouse. Restaurateur Ford Fry surprised Houston diners when he announced he was closing Tex-Mex restaurant Superica and replacing it with Star Rover, a casual, family-friendly steakhouse. With Star Rover now open, Fry explains the decision.

    3. Houston's 10 best neighborhood restaurants offer comfort and convenience. The time has come to celebrate the nominees for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

    Feges BBQ Erin Patrick Feges barbecue tray Feges BBQ is in the running for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year. Photo by Robert Jacob Lerma

    4. 4 Houston spots make Texas Monthly's best new restaurants of 2026 list. Texas Monthly has revealed its 10 best new restaurants for 2026, highlighting restaurants that opened between December 1, 2024, and October 31, 2025.

    5. Western-inspired, family-friendly restaurant now open near the Heights. A new family-friendly restaurant has opened near the Heights. Long Weekend boasts a number of amenities, including an expansive menu, plenty of outdoor seating, and Houston’s largest outdoor play area, according to the restaurant.

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