Barbara Burns’ crime – An entire timeline of occasions

On August 15, 2004, Barbara Burns, a 53-year-old lady from St. Petersburg, Florida, fatally shot her mentally disabled sister, Debbie Burns, on Debbie’s fortieth birthday. The case was broadly publicized attributable to its dismal circumstances, drawing consideration to the acute pressures confronted by lifelong caregivers. Barbara had been caring for Debbie since age 13 and was in the end overwhelmed by monetary loss and emotional drain, which culminated within the crime.

Following the capturing, she hid Debbie’s physique of their trailer for six weeks earlier than escaping to Virginia Beach. The case was subsequently found, leading to Barbara Burns’ arrest and conviction for manslaughter. This timeline particulars the most important occasions, from Barbara’s previous to the authorized consequence, casting gentle on a multifaceted tragedy.

The true story behind Barbara Burns

Barbara Burns, born in 1951 in Washington, D.C., was one among 5 kids in a working-class household in Maryland. She stop highschool at age 13 to take care of her youthful sister, Debbie, who had develop into severely disabled after contracting scarlet fever as a toddler. The sickness left her with the psychological potential of a 6-year-old, requiring fixed supervision, in response to Oxygen.

Burns’ life revolved round this accountability, as their father died early, and their mom, Margaret, later succumbed to Alzheimer’s in 2000. Barbara by no means married, had few mates, and supported herself and Debbie by minimum-wage jobs, together with cashiering at Lowe’s. After their mom’s dying and brother John Burns’ dying, the sisters inherited $350,000, which they spent on lavish journeys and purchases, together with a trailer in St. Petersburg, Florida, in response to Oxygen.

However, by 2004, Debbie’s impulsive spending had drained the inheritance, resulting in chapter and foreclosures. Barbara’s dedication, coupled with monetary and emotional pressure, set the stage for the tragic occasions that adopted, as per Tampa Bay.

The crime: August 15, 2004

On August 15, 2004, Barbara Burns shot her sister Debbie within the brow with a .38-caliber revolver whereas Debbie slept in her mattress. Barbara pulled out the gun from the drawer that she had purchased years in the past for his or her security. She stood above Debbie and shot her. The capturing occurred after a heated argument about cash, as Debbie’s extreme spending had left them in monetary wreck, in response to Tampa Bay.

Overwhelmed by years of caregiving, monetary stress, and Debbie’s demanding habits, Barbara Burns later described the act as a second of breaking underneath strain. To conceal the crime, she wrapped Debbie’s physique in a bathe curtain, a blanket, and a Star Wars comforter, leaving it within the trailer. She lowered the air-con, used air fresheners, and poured potpourri over the physique in an try to masks the odor of decomposition, as per Tampa Bay.

For six weeks, Barbara lived within the trailer along with her sister’s physique whereas persevering with to work at Lowe’s, telling neighbors that Debbie had gone to California. On October 1, 2004, Barbara Burns deserted the property, dropped their chihuahua, Leo, at a shelter, and fled to Virginia Beach, as per Tampa Bay.

Discovery and arrest: May 2005

On May 4, 2005, a cleansing crew despatched by the mortgage firm that had foreclosed on the trailer found Debbie’s decomposed physique inside the home. She was recognized by her three tooth and a twisted backbone. Investigators later discovered that Debbie’s incapacity checks had continued to be cashed in Virginia Beach after her dying. Bank safety footage confirmed Barbara was accountable, as per Oxygen.

Detectives traced her to a 7-Eleven in Virginia Beach, the place she was working the night time shift whereas dwelling in a homeless shelter. On May 9, 2005, St. Petersburg detectives confronted Barbara after her shift. Initially, she denied proudly owning a trailer or having a sister. However, when proven a photograph of Debbie with their canine, Leo, she confessed to the killing, as per Tampa Bay.

Barbara Burns was arrested, extradited to Pinellas County, Florida, and charged with first-degree homicide. Her confession revealed the emotional toll of lifelong caregiving and monetary hardship that led to the crime, as per Oxygen.

Legal consequence and aftermath

In July 2006, Barbara Burns pleaded responsible to manslaughter as a part of a plea deal, avoiding a first-degree homicide trial that might have resulted in life imprisonment or the dying penalty. Both prosecutors and her protection legal professional, Michael Hays, acknowledged her lack of prior prison historical past and the acute stress of caregiving, as per Oxygen.

On July 19, 2006, she was sentenced to fifteen years in jail, with credit score for time served and potential early launch for good habits, probably inside 12 years. By November 2018, following her launch, Barbara was dwelling in a St. Petersburg midway home with two roommates, expressing remorse and a want for a easy life, as per Oxygen.

The case drew media consideration by reveals like Twisted Sisters and Snapped, highlighting the broader concern of caregiver burnout.

Stay tuned for extra information and updates.