Jury Only Needed An Hour

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

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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Trader Joe's sets Cypress opening date, confirms Bellaire plans

Photo courtesy of Towne Lake by Caldwell Communities Facebook page

Trader Joe's is expanding, and shoppers couldn't be happier.

Two new Houston-area communities announced that they would be opening Trader Joe's locations, bringing the total number of stores in the city to nine.

On Thursday, December 18, the Towne Lake by Caldwell Communities Facebook page posted that the new Trader Joe's at 9715 Towne Lake Parkway would open at 8 am on Friday, December 19. Unsold but still-good products left over at the ribbon cutting ceremony will be donated to local nonprofits.

"Not only does Trader Joe's have great prices on food, drinks, and treats, but as a hobby florist I always find the best selections for my floral arrangements," Copperfield resident Kelsey Zuchlewski tells CultureMap. "Now, with the convenience of having a location right here in our neighborhood, I'm in heaven."

Confirmation of the Cypress opening followed an announcement on the City of Bellaire's Facebook page that a Trader Joe's would take over the former Randall's at 5130 Bellaire Blvd. The post did not specify when construction will begin or when the location will open.

"This highly anticipated addition to our community will bring a unique grocery shopping experience and further enhance the vibrant retail landscape of Bellaire," the post said. "We look forward to welcoming Trader Joe’s and will share updates as the project progresses."

The California-based chain of stores entered Houston in 2012, first in the Woodlands and then, more famously, at the old Alabama Theater space on Shepherd, where it has become a beloved local institution. Since then, the chain has expanded throughout Houston, including a Kingwood location that opened earlier this month.

Over the year, Trader Joe's has built a loyal following that rivals even H-E-B. Staff at the stores (wearing Hawaiian shirts) are trained to be extremely friendly and helpful, as well as being encouraged to purchase ownership in the company. The selection is smaller and more curated than other larger grocery stores, leading to a boutique experience that many consider to be surprisingly affordable. At least one viral TikToker claims that Trader Joe's beats H-E-B's price, although the latter undoubtedly has a larger selection of goods.

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