The Murder of Daniel Burroughs
For this case, I watched an episode of Murder Nation: Jersey Gore. It’s season 1 episode 1, titled ‘Love You to Pieces.’
A woman says her husband left her for another woman, but his family and friends suspect something more sinister has happened.
Background
Daniel Burroughs and his future wife, Loretta attended high school together in the 60s, and would later reconnect many years later.
Daniel and Loretta were both described as very sweet and nice. They dated in high school, but weren’t serious. They both went on to marry other people, and both got divorced in the 70s.
Loretta remarried, but her husband passed away in February 1994. She and Daniel reconnected. They got married in 1997 after 3 years of dating.
Daniel loved working on cars, and would often do it for free for certain people. He didn’t have a steady job, but did projects and work on the side.
Daniel Burroughs
The Other Woman
On August 7, 2007, Loretta claimed that Daniel had left with a younger blonde woman in a yellow Hummer.
Loretta would tell anyone that listened that the woman was a waittress from Florida. She and Daniel had met her at a restaurant while they were on vacation. Daniel had kept wanting to go back to the restaurant, so they ate there almost everyday on their vacation.
They went back home, but Loretta went on another vacation with her daughter’s family. When she returned home, Daniel was in their driveway with the other woman. Daniel said he was leaving and going to Florida with the waitress.
Loretta claimed that Daniel had been wanting to move and retire in Florida for years. Loretta’s family lived close by, so she didn’t want to move. They had different views on how they would spend their retirement.
After he “moved,” Loretta had a yard sale to sell all of Daniel’s things. It made one of Daniel’s friends really suspicious. The friend confronted Loretta, who claimed that Daniel didn’t want any of it. The friend knew that Daniel loved his tools to do his various projects.
Daniel’s brother, Ray was also suspicious. Daniel hadn’t left him his new address or even told him he was going to Florida. Daniel and Ray talked all the time, and Ray would often visit.
An Answer For Everything
In September 2007, Ray drove from his house in Pennsylvania to visit Loretta. Ray also reported Daniel missing.
The police searched local databases for Daniel, but there was no sign or trail of him in Florida.
The police spoke to Loretta. She was cooperative. The police searched the house and property. However, nothing seemed out of place or suspicious.
The police looked into Loretta’s background. About 10 years earlier, Loretta had embezzled money. She embezzled about a half a million dollars from the company she worked for. Loretta claimed that she had been made the scapegoat when there were others involved.
Loretta had been afraid to tell Daniel. But, he visited her in prison for over 2 years.
Daniel’s friend and neighbor told the police that he noticed that Loretta had dirt on her hands and clothing while he spoke to her. He had noticed a horrible smell. Loretta had claimed it was a dead animal. He had also noticed that a broken trellious had been recently repaired.
Loretta seemed to have an answer for everything. The police didn’t have any evidence for an arrest, and Daniel’s case went cold.
The Forged Document
In 2009, Loretta was able to file for divorce. A notice was put in the newspaper. By the time the court hearing came around, Daniel didn’t show up. Loretta also sold the house in Mays Landing. She moved to Ventnor City to be closer to her daughter and sister.
In February 2013, Ray contacted the police. He was frustrated that his brother’s case had stalled.
Loretta’s story had never made sense to the police. Things weren’t adding up, but the police didn’t have any concrete evidence. Witnesses had never seen a yellow Hummer pick Daniel up in 2007. Loretta maintained that Daniel had left her for this other woman.
The police also decided to look into the death of Loretta’s previous husband. Family members and friends were suspcious that Loretta had killed him. They had separated, and reconnected for about a week before he died. He had ended up overdosing. Loretta had been giving him his medications. She received money after he died, and never gave anything to his kids.
Without Daniel’s body, the police know that they couldn’t prosecute Loretta for murder. They did discover a power of attorney document. The document had been signed by Daniel, but it looked very fake.
The biggest thing that Loretta was after was the house because it was worth a signifciant amount of money. The power of the attorney document was created on June 12, 2007. A friend of a friend of Loretta’s had notorized the document.
The Discovery
On May 17, 2013, a search warrant was obtained for Loretta’s house and the home where she had been staying with her sister. The warrants were presented at the same time, so Loretta didn’t have time to destroy evidence.
Loretta seemed to know why the police were there. When they arrived, she asked if they were going to search her Ventnor City house. They said yes, and saw the color drain from her face.
In one of the bedrooms, the police found tupperware containers stacked in the closet. They were the only items in the house that were stacked and conceled. The police found air freshner beads and dryer sheets on top of the containers. Once the containers were opened, they could immediately smell decomposition.
The police found bones separated into two containers. A skull was also found inside of the containers inside a woman’s handbag.
Loretta was questioned at the police station. Loretta was crying, and told the police that she wanted to talk. She admitted to killing Daniel, and said he was still with her. She said he was in the closet of her Ventnor house. The police knew that they had found the remains of Daniel Burroughs.
Loretta’s Story
Loretta told a story of domestic abuse. She said she killed Daniel in self defense. She said they had an argument, she went into the kitchen, and grabbed a knife. Loretta said Daniel lunged at her, and impailed himself. Loretta then put Daniel’s body in the bathtub.
The police asked why she didn’t call 911. She said she had left him in the bathtub while she went on vacation. When she returned home, she put him into containers. Loretta buried the containers, but took the containers with her everywhere she went when she moved.
Loretta went on trial. The prosecutors wanted to unmask Loretta, and portray her as someone who wasn’t a loving grandmother. The prosecutors and police said she had many different sides to her. Loretta would sit in court, and could very easily turn her emotions on and off.
In 2015, Loretta was convicted, and sentenced to 55 years in prison. She was sentenced to an additional 3 years for hindering apprehension. She’ll be eligible for parole in 2060, when she’s 108-years-old.
Loretta Burroughs
FINAL THOUGHTS
Loretta is clearly a monster. Daniel had stayed with her even during her prison sentence. Loretta contiuned to lie to everyone, and wanted to paint herself as a victim. I don’t believe she’s every been honest about what happened to Daniel, and I don’t think she’ll ever tell the whole story. My heart breaks for her family, Daniel’s family, and the family of her previous husband.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-loretta-burroughs-now/
https://www.nj.com/south/2015/04/nj_woman_gets_55_years_in_murder_of_husband_whose.html
