Deputies found 21-year-old Maysie Murphy dead after a call on Adlong Johnson Road.
CROSBY, Texas — A 55-year-old woman has been charged with murder after Harris County deputies found a 21-year-old woman shot dead Monday afternoon inside a home near U.S. 90, authorities said.
Courtney Smith was booked into the Harris County Jail after deputies found Maysie Murphy dead in the 17800 block of Adlong Johnson Road. Sheriff’s officials said Smith and Murphy had both been staying at the home, whose owners were out of town.
Deputies were sent to the home at about 3:48 p.m. after a woman asked to meet with law enforcement. When deputies arrived, officials said, the woman told them she had killed her granddaughter and her granddaughter’s boyfriend. Deputies entered the home and found Murphy dead from apparent gunshot wounds.
Investigators said no male victim was found at the scene. Maj. Ben Katrib of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said authorities had no indication Monday night that a boyfriend had been shot, though detectives were still checking the information given during the call.
Officials said Murphy was not believed to be Smith’s granddaughter. Katrib said Murphy was described as “like a granddaughter” to the couple who owned the home, but not related by blood. Smith was described as someone the couple may have met online before allowing her to live there.
The sheriff’s office said deputies had been called to the same home earlier Monday, at about 1:30 p.m., after Smith reportedly said she was seeing demons. Katrib said deputies did not have enough information at that time to move forward with an emergency detention order.
Crime scene investigators and homicide detectives continued processing the home after the shooting. Officials had not released a possible motive, and no additional victims had been located. Smith remained jailed on a murder charge as the investigation continued.
Author note: Last updated May 19, 2026.