Lauren Burk

Lauren A. Burk (died March 4, 2008) was a freshman at Auburn University who was murdered near her school. Born in Marietta, Georgia, Burk graduated from George Walton High School in 2007. During her time at Auburn, she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and studied fine arts. A suspect has been arrested and charged with capital murder during a kidnapping, capital murder during a robbery, and capital murder during an attempted rape.

Murder

Birk was found with a single gunshot wound on March 4, 2008. She was lying on the side of Alabama Highway 147, five miles from campus when discovered. After being taken to East Alabama Medical Center, she was declared dead, at age 18. Her 2001 Honda Civic was later found burning in a parking lot near the university.

Shortly after her murder, governor Bob Riley offered a $10,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Burk's murder. Assistant Police Chief Tommy Dawson of Auburn say that a task force has been assembled to the case.

Burk will be buried at Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta. She is described by Rabbi Steven Lebow as "a very sweet child" who was "beloved by her friends, her friends at Auburn and her friends at Walton ".

Suspect
Police arrested Courtney Lockhart on March 8, 2008, a 23 year old male who has also confessed to four robberies. He was taken to the Russell County jail in Alabama. Police say that Lockhart purchased some petrol at Farmville Mini-Mart when his picture was taken. The assistant police chief Tommy Dawson said that NASA's help was required in the identification. He also added, "we have the right individual in jail, I'm 100% sure of that". Although the media has pointed to similarities between the murder of Lauren Burk and Eve Carson, the student body president at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, police believe that there is no connection between the two.

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