Life in prison for killer of 84-year-old Edith King

UPDATE @ 10:25 a.m. 8-19-2015:

Travis Burke was sentenced Wednesday morning to life in prison without parole, plus 14 years for killing Edith King of West Carrollton.

FIRST REPORT 4-10-2015:

During tearful testimony Friday, the daughter of a West Carrollton woman brutally stabbed to death inside her home told a judge her mother was afraid of Travis Burke.

Burke, 25, faces life in prison without parole plus 25 years for nine counts, including aggravated murder, in the death of 81-year-old Edith King on April 8, 2013. The two were neighbors on Windsor Court.

King’s daughter, Debbie Crist, found King dead inside her bathroom. During a sentencing hearing before Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Michael Krumholtz, Crist said her mother feared Burke because of his criminal history and known drug use. He’s been convicted in multiple drug and theft cases, including a felony burglary involving another neighbor’s house on Windsor Court.

“She’d said he’d broken into houses there before and they were afraid he would break into their house if they didn’t (give him money),” Crist said.

In an unusual twist, Burke entered an Alford plea, meaning he does not admit guilt in the case, but claims the evidence prosecutors have against him can’t be overcome at trial. Investigators said they have fingerprints and blood tying Burke to the scene, despite his use of cleaners and water in an attempt to destroy the evidence.

Prosecutors called three witnesses in Friday’s hearing, which was meant to assist Krumholtz in determining a sentence for Burke. In addition to Crist, an investigator with the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office testified King died of multiple sharp force injuries. She was stabbed and slashed 23 times, including large gashes to her neck and a stab wound puncturing her pulmonary artery.

Anthony Vannoy, Burke’s defense attorney, attempted to call one witness — Burke’s mother — but she failed to appear. Vannoy said his client’s mother contributed to Burke’s troubled childhood because of her drug addiction. Burke reportedly became addicted to drugs, namely heroin, at the age of 13, and many of his theft cases relate to him trying to get money to feed his habit.

“From my perspective he didn’t have a shot at life. He’s a kind-hearted person bound by drugs,” Vannoy said.

While Vannoy said Burke will spend time in prison, he argued his client does not deserve a life sentence because he could become a productive member of society if given the chance.

A date has not been set for sentencing, but Krumholtz said he expected to render a decision within the next 30 days.

0
Comments on this article