GUILTY AL - Lauren Burk, 18, Auburn student, abducted & murdered, 4 March 2008

[mikesmom1989]

I'm with you guys on being frightened for our children. My daughter is a college freshman and I hate to say it, but there have been times I have called her cell phone and when I didn't get an answer I have worried that the "boogie man" got her! There are so many "boogie men" these days that it makes you sick with worry...or it does me at times. I try to have faith and think good thoughts, but then senseless acts like these occur and BAM...I am a nervous nelly again!

LOL, if my son doesnt pick up his phone, i have a nervous breakdown ...and he is an almost 19 year old college student with a good head on his shoulders !! as you said, i always worry about all those crazy boogie men !!!
glad to hear there is someone as nuerotic as me !!! :blowkiss:

 

[LittleRNB]

Aw, Mikesmom...thanks for making "me" feel like I'm not alone!
My daughter will be 19 in April and I worry about her more now than when she was 5 it seems! And like your son, she has a great head on her shoulders. I'm afraid sometimes that could make her "more appealing" to the wrong person...look at what happened to Eve and Lauren. So frightening.

 

[newshound81]

I don't fully comprehend it either...especially since I have good knowledge of the campus where she and her car were found. It is amazing to me that he was able to do all this without someone catching him in the act.

My guess is that she left the boyfriend's apartment and was either approached in the parking lot as she was getting into her car - OR went to a gas station or another quick stop and was approached there. He brandished a weapon, made her get in the car and drive. Had her pull of on the side of a rural road where she was found (that road goes onto a main highway) and attempted to rob/attack her. Because she was missing clothing, it seems like she fought back hard, he shot her and dumped her out of the car, leaving her for dead. Took her car to a gas station and got gas, drove it to the lot.

This is where I get confused. The lot where the car was found is quite busy; it is one of the main lots where girls park their cars behind the dorms. It's where I parked as a freshman. There are people coming and going at all hours, so I cannot believe no one noticed a man dousing a car with gas and setting it on fire. In fact, there was a car parked right next to it that suffered substantial damage as I saw on Greta.

My gut feeling is that someone saw him in several places and that he seemed out of place, acting nervously or suspiciously. The security camera probably nailed him the most.

These are all just thoughts of mine...anyone else have any? Any others with knowledge of the AU campus?

Have they said whether or not Lauren walked or drove to the library? I've seen mixed reports.

My question is - how did this guy get to Auburn? Meaning, where is his car? Did he park it in the lot to carry out his crime against Lauren? Did he see her walking and abduct her in his car and then take her to her own car? Or did he wait outside her car and force her inside it? A lot of unanswered questions.

 

[MCDRAW]

LOL, if my son doesnt pick up his phone, i have a nervous breakdown ...and he is an almost 19 year old college student with a good head on his shoulders !! as you said, i always worry about all those crazy boogie men !!!
glad to hear there is someone as nuerotic as me !!! :blowkiss:

My son is going away to College in the fall. I'm going to tell him that he has to call or email every day. Just so I can sleep. Times have changed, I don't think my parents worried for my safety when I went to College. I keep thinking of Nicholas Garza who disappeared and his mom didn't know for several days. I told my husband the other day...it's not just the girls we have to worry about now. I know I am going to have to let go but I am already having a hard just thinking about it.

 

[sleuthin4fun]

My son is going away to College in the fall. I'm going to tell him that he has to call or email every day. Just so I can sleep. Times have changed, I don't think my parents worried for my safety when I went to College. I keep thinking of Nicholas Garza who disappeared and his mom didn't know for several days. I told my husband the other day...it's not just the girls we have to worry about now. I know I am going to have to let go but I am already having a hard just thinking about it.

MCDRAW, Praying for you. My daughter is a year behind your son and I know that I will have a very hard time letting her go. People say that when the time comes I will be ready but, I don't think so. Maybe I will have her fitted with a GPS tracking system before she leaves.

 

[MCDRAW]

Hey the GPS device is a good idea!

 

[concernedperson]

Indicted in the death of Lauren Burk. attorney's are going for an insanity defense.


http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/me...illing_0515.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

 

[Tonia]

Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of Lauren's murder. Prayers for her family.

 

[clemsongrad]

My daughter is in Lauren's sorority at Auburn. It was so tragic.

 

[Tonia]

Trial date set in Lockhart capitol murder case

Judge Walker set March 29th, 2010 as the date for the capitol murder trial. The date was set at a request from District Attorney Nick Abbett, who told the Judge he would like to notify Lauren Burke's family. Both the District Attorney's office and defense attorney's for Lockhart expect the trial could last up to two weeks.


Meanwhile, Lockhart, dressed in pink dress shirt and tie, nodded to his family as he walked into the courtroom.


At some points during the proceeding he spoke quietly with his attorney's. Lockhart is accused in the March 4th 2008 murder of student Lauren Burk. According to the arrest report, Lockhart kidnapped, attempted to rape, then shot the freshman during an apparent robbery.

http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=10105487

 

[Texas Mist]

Jury selection is supposed to be underway

http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/trial-beginning-in-killing-731446.html


Defense is still trying for COV before jury selection starts- judge said 'no' again

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20022082-504083.html

 

[MCDRAW]

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/27053248/detail.html?cxntlid=cmg_cntnt_rssLEE COUNTY, Ala. -- A man convicted of killing an Auburn University student from Marietta received a death sentence Wednesday afternoon.

In November, the defendant, Courtney Lockhart, was convicted of killing Lauren Burk. Detectives said Lockhart robbed and kidnapped Burk from her Auburn apartment three years ago, forced her to undress as he drove her around then shot her as she tried to escape by jumping out of a moving car.

After finding him guilty, the jury recommended a sentence of life without parole. But in Alabama, the final decision rests with a judge. Judge Jacob Walker decided to override the jury’s recommendation and went with a death sentence.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Source: Condemned Alabama man to ask court to consider new trial in murder of AU freshman

Sources close to the case say Lockhart may try to claim his original defense team was inadequate and ask for a new trial.

"The Burk Family is very saddened by the fact that our Judicial system is allowing this Murderer to have another Hearing. We realize under Rule 32, it is his right, but what about Lauren's rights? We truly hope and pray his Death Penalty remains as it was ruled by the Honorable Judge Jacob Walker at the trial, and until then, he suffers each and every day he is waiting to be put to death."
-The Burk Family.

 

[JerseyGirl]

This latest appeal infuriates the Burks, who must now endure seeing him back in the same courtroom in which he was convicted.

Lockhart’s latest hearing is scheduled for Dec. 17 in Alabama. Depending on the outcome, it mark the end of his appeals.

Parents of murdered Auburn University student furious killer wants new trial

 

[Penny Parker]

This latest appeal infuriates the Burks, who must now endure seeing him back in the same courtroom in which he was convicted.

Lockhart’s latest hearing is scheduled for Dec. 17 in Alabama. Depending on the outcome, it mark the end of his appeals.

Parents of murdered Auburn University student furious killer wants new trial

I hate it for this family. They've been through so much already. I hope they don't have to go through another trial.

 

[JerseyGirl]

A hearing has been set for an Alabama man seeking a new trial over his death sentence for kidnapping and killing an Auburn University student.

Lockhart’s filing says he has post-traumatic stress disorder and his defense attorney at the time failed to present evidence of his trauma and how it influenced the shooting.

Death Row inmate seeks new trial in 2008 murder of Auburn student Lauren Burk

 

[JerseyGirl]

Jeremy Armstrong released the following statement following his testimony at today’s hearing. Lockhart’s new defense team is trying to get him off death row for the kidnapping and murder of 18-year-old Lauren Burk. The defense team claims Armstrong and his team provided inadequate counsel during Lockhart’s 2010 trial.

Exclusive: Courtney Lockhart's trial attorney releases statement after concluding testimony

 

[JerseyGirl]

The Judge will make a decision at some point. We are told a decision could come in weeks or it may even take years. Attorneys for Lockhart say they will not give up.

Lockhart’s attorney says judicial override is “unconstitutional”

 

[JerseyGirl]

Courtney Lockhart Back in Court to Get Off Death Row - WLTZ