Is Former Police Chief James Burke Criminally Connected To Rex Heuermann?
Sep 07, 2023, 05:00 PM
In a recent episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast, hosts Tony Brueski and Bob Motta, a defense attorney and host of "Defense Diaries," discussed the alleged involvement of former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke in the Long Island Serial Killer (LISK) case. The hosts speculated on Burke's connection to suspect Rex Heuermann and whether his involvement with sex workers could have influenced the lack of investigation into the killings.
Brueski and Motta discussed the possibility that Burke was reluctant to investigate because of his personal involvement with sex workers. "If you're involved in that world of hiring sex workers and you don't want to be found out if they happen to be dropping dead every now and then and it happened to be one that you saw on a regular basis, well that's one more person that can ever talk and say that you were with them," Brueski said.
Motta added that the question of Burke's connection to Heuermann and his involvement with sex workers may never be addressed in a criminal trial because it is not directly relevant to the charges. However, he pointed out that if Burke is sued in a civil court, he could be forced to answer these questions during a deposition. "Like I love depositions in civil cases. Because that's when you can, like so many times you have criminal cases where in terms of the testimony, it's going to be limited because of relevance. It's gotta be relevant to the crime that is being tried at trial. That is a collateral issue that could be just absolutely devastating," Motta said.
The hosts also discussed the possibility of suing Burke and Suffolk County if more bodies are found. Motta explained that governmental immunity may protect Burke and the county from being sued, but this immunity could be pierced if it can be shown that Burke's actions were willful and wanton. "It seems like, based on what we know, We might be able to break through it because willful and wanton behavior when he clearly had evidence and if he was the one that they can show that he was the one that was shutting the investigation down," Motta said.
Brueski and Motta expressed hope that the truth will come out and that those responsible will be held accountable. "So we'll see how it plays out, man. But it'll be interesting for sure," Motta concluded.
The Long Island Serial Killer case involves the murders of 10 to 16 people over a period of nearly 20 years. Most of the victims were associated with the sex trade. The case remains unsolved, and the identity of the killer is unknown. James Burke served as the chief of the Suffolk County Police Department from 2012 to 2015. He was sentenced to 46 months in prison in 2016 for beating a man who stole a duffel bag from his vehicle and orchestrating a cover-up. Rex Heuermann has been mentioned in media reports as a possible suspect in the LISK case, but no charges have been filed against him.
As the investigation into the Long Island Serial Killer continues, many questions remain unanswered. The involvement of former law enforcement officials and the possibility of legal action against them adds another layer of complexity to this already mysterious case.
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The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Brueski and Motta discussed the possibility that Burke was reluctant to investigate because of his personal involvement with sex workers. "If you're involved in that world of hiring sex workers and you don't want to be found out if they happen to be dropping dead every now and then and it happened to be one that you saw on a regular basis, well that's one more person that can ever talk and say that you were with them," Brueski said.
Motta added that the question of Burke's connection to Heuermann and his involvement with sex workers may never be addressed in a criminal trial because it is not directly relevant to the charges. However, he pointed out that if Burke is sued in a civil court, he could be forced to answer these questions during a deposition. "Like I love depositions in civil cases. Because that's when you can, like so many times you have criminal cases where in terms of the testimony, it's going to be limited because of relevance. It's gotta be relevant to the crime that is being tried at trial. That is a collateral issue that could be just absolutely devastating," Motta said.
The hosts also discussed the possibility of suing Burke and Suffolk County if more bodies are found. Motta explained that governmental immunity may protect Burke and the county from being sued, but this immunity could be pierced if it can be shown that Burke's actions were willful and wanton. "It seems like, based on what we know, We might be able to break through it because willful and wanton behavior when he clearly had evidence and if he was the one that they can show that he was the one that was shutting the investigation down," Motta said.
Brueski and Motta expressed hope that the truth will come out and that those responsible will be held accountable. "So we'll see how it plays out, man. But it'll be interesting for sure," Motta concluded.
The Long Island Serial Killer case involves the murders of 10 to 16 people over a period of nearly 20 years. Most of the victims were associated with the sex trade. The case remains unsolved, and the identity of the killer is unknown. James Burke served as the chief of the Suffolk County Police Department from 2012 to 2015. He was sentenced to 46 months in prison in 2016 for beating a man who stole a duffel bag from his vehicle and orchestrating a cover-up. Rex Heuermann has been mentioned in media reports as a possible suspect in the LISK case, but no charges have been filed against him.
As the investigation into the Long Island Serial Killer continues, many questions remain unanswered. The involvement of former law enforcement officials and the possibility of legal action against them adds another layer of complexity to this already mysterious case.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com