Police: Man Killed Father, Burned Down His Home After Moving The Body
SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- Police say a man killed his father then moved the body and burned down the father's Sugar Creek Township home earlier this week.
KDKA's Amy Wadas: "Did you kill your father?
George Burdette III: "Get the [expletive] away from me."
George Burdette III, 30, did not want to talk to KDKA when he was escorted into the Pennsylvania State Police Kittanning Barracks Saturday afternoon. He's being charged with criminal homicide for the death of his father, George Burdette, Jr., 59. Authorities believe Burdette Jr. was killed late Tuesday night after he and his son got into a dispute.
"The investigation started on July 12 when a report of a suspicious fire came in," Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi said.
A press conference was held at the barracks Saturday. Burdette Jr.'s trailer burned to the ground on little road in Sugar Creek Township.
"We believe it was set by George Burdette III to cover up the crime," Andreassi said.
In the criminal complaint, police say Burdette III wanted to kill his father for disrespecting his girlfriend, Cheyanna Lebaron, 29. On Tuesday night, police say the pair went to his father's home where he and Lebaron had been staying, splashed bleach on his face to disorient him, then hit him in the head multiple times with a baseball bat.
Police say George Burdette Jr.'s body was found over a ravine in the woods off of Burns Hill Road in Sugar Creek Township wrapped in plastic. They say his son's girlfriend led police there Saturday morning.
Police questioned Lebaron after Burdette Jr.'s niece reported him missing. Lebaron told police Burdette Jr.'s body was driven to Burns Hill in his Dodge Neon on Wednesday. Then she said her boyfriend set his dad's mattress on fire.
"At the time we examined the body to take pictures of tattoos because he was a little decomposed. He has been there for a few days which matches up the time," Armstrong County Attorney Brian Myers said.
Chris Lohr used to live by Burdette III before moving to Nashville.
"He's an avid coon hunter who used to sneak around our property a lot. Caught him in the back of our garage trying to steal stuff," former neighbor Chris Lohr said.
Police arrested Burdette III Friday night on unrelated charges and was taken to the Armstrong County Jail.
After further investigation, police also charged Lebaron with criminal homicide. She was taken into custody Saturday night and placed in the Armstrong County Jail.
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