WILLIAMSON COUNTY — A 32-year-old Marion woman was sentenced Friday in Williamson County Court to 55 years in prison for the stabbing death of her 11-year-old step-daughter Jade Marie Beasley.

Julia Bevely was found guilty in February on three counts of first-degree murder for the 2020 stabbing death of an 11-year-old girl.

According to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department Jade was stabbed more than 20 times and was found in the bathtub, with the water still running. Reports showed she had defensive wounds on her hands, arms, and face.

Police reported Bevely made the initial 911 call to their home on Songbird Lane, saying that she had left Jade home alone for a brief time and saw a man in dark-colored clothing fleeing from the home when she arrived. The investigation into the murder proved that to be false.