interstice.com/leo -> interstice.com/leo/
Leo the dog's killer sues for anguish' HE ALSO CLAIMS INJURY IN FENDER-BENDER (SJMN). Please note that the SJMN seems to restrict access to the articles a few weeks after putting them on the web, so if you cannot read them that is probably why. In the PacBell case, Burnett's PacBell service van ended up at the bottom of a cliff minus some equipment (that was later found to have been sold by Burnett for profit). As part of his defense, Burnett claimed that he drove off the road in an attempt to dodge an animal, and he rolled down the cliff in the van into the water. He claimed he escaped from the van, swam in the Pacific Ocean for about a mile before washing ashore and hiking over the mountains near the Redwood City, CA area. But of course, Burnett's story about rolling down the hill in the van was a complete fabrication. He did roll the van down, in an attempt to hide evidence, but Burnett himself wasn't in it. I expect his claim of a neck injury, coming three years after the Leo killing, is a similar fabrication. After two years in jail, most of the negative attention on Burnett had finally died down. What would possess Burnett to return himself to public ridicule with an absurd lawsuit, instead of quietly trying to rebuild some sort of life for himself? Andrew Douglas Burnett Guilty, Gets Three Years UPDATE 7/24/2001 2PM Detective Zaragoza was kind enough to send us a note: To all the readers/supporters of this website: First I would like to say, had it not been for the leads that were sent to this website, the "LEO" case would have never been solved. Andrew Douglas Burnett would have never been brought to justice and he would have never seen the inside of a prison. The photo of Burnett's black GMC Jimmy was enlarged to 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 feet and it was used as a court exibit---both for the Grand Jury and at trial in Superior Court. Most of all, thanks to Sara McBurnett, who never wavered from day one--through trial, in the face of adversity, when others were trying to discredit her testimony. We must not forget KGO radio (810 AM), San Francisco and Ronn Owens who kept the public informed and started the reward fund which grew to over $120,000. I have to also give credit to all the officers who were instrumental in helping to solve "LEO's" case. The clerical staff, Rosana, Georgia and Kathy who spent countless of hours typing my rambling reports. The Santa Clara Department of Corrections who monitored Burnett's prison telephone calls, yielding a lot of incriminating evidence used at trial. Most of all, the Honorable Superior Court Judge Robert L. Ambrose who spent many hours with me in Chambers voicing "legal opinions" and believing that the "LEO" case could be solved and prosecuted. The Judge's enthusiasm kept me focused and in perspective. It also helped to quickly erase from my mind the comments by "others" who opined "It's only a dog . Thanks to all who took the time to send me flowers, letters, cards and email. Many people heard that I kept a picture of Leo above my desk during this investigation. What should also have been noticed above my desk is a writing by Ralph Waldo Emerson: SUCCESS TO LAUGH OFTEN AND MUCH TO WIN THE RESPECT OF INTELLIGENT PEOPLE AND THE AFFECTION OF CHILDREN, TO EARN THE APPRECIATION OF HONEST CRITICS AND ENDURE THE BETRAYAL OF FALSE FRIENDS, TO APPRECIATE BEAUTY, TO FIND THE BEST IN OTHERS, TO LEAVE THE WORLD A BIT BETTER, WHETHER BY A HEALTHY CHILD, A GARDEN PATCH, OR A REDEEMED SOCIAL CONDITION, TO KNOW THAT EVEN ONE LIFE HAS BREATHED BETTER BECAUSE YOU HAVE LIVED, THIS IS TO HAVE SUCCEEDED. Phil Zaragoza Detective Sergeant UPDATE 7/24/2001 1PM: After another brief trial, Andrew Douglas Burnett was just found guilty of another three (yes, that's three) additional unrelated felonies involving the theft and destruction of a Pacific Bell installation van and associated equipment.
UPDATE 7/13/2001 11:30PM: Today Burnett was sentenced to three years--the maximum. Sara was very pleased with Judge Kevin Murphy's decision (obviously) and also the words he spoke as he gave the sentence. It was clear that Judge Murphy didn't buy any of the several excuses Burnett had offered, and in fact was probably offended by the ridiculously implausible stories that Burnett rendered on various occasions. I was in the court with Sara today when the decision was read. The defendant requested through his attorney that the jurors be asked individually to confirm their verdict, and they did so. Thanks above all to Phil Zaragoza, the Santa Clara Police Department detective who took over the case from the San Jose Police Department. Thanks to Troy Benson and Al Weger for their efforts in prosecuting the case. Thanks to "can't say", an informant who emailed this website with crucial information that led to the identification of Burnett, and the others who flooded this site with tips and support for Sara. Thanks to the witnesses who testified to the events, and the jurors who decided Burnett's fate. Thanks to the California Highway Patrol officer who helped prompt Zaragoza to action. Thanks to Burnett himself for continuing to do other stupid things that kept the police interested in him and led to his downfall. Thanks to members of the media for the publicity that played an important part in bringing Burnett to justice, particularly: Geoffrey Tomb from the SJ Mercury News who received our initial letter and published the first article on the crime, and also to Ronn Owens of KGO AM 810 who featured the case on several radio programs. Finally, thanks to Paul Prickett, the private investigator, for his help in investigating the case, to animal WARDS for helping fund the investigator, and to the Santa Clara Humane Society for managing the reward fund. No thanks to the San Jose Police Department who seemed alternately disinterested and incompetent in their pursuit of this case. It was handed to them on a silver platter, and they blew it. There was so much evidence that Burnett had to stipulate at the outset of the trial that he committed the act! The case would have gone nowhere with the San Jose police. Fortunately, Phil Zaragoza from the Santa Clara Police Department took over and pursued the investigation. For the record, I believe the defense attorney, Marc Garcia, represented Burnett honorably though I know Sara feels otherwise. It must have sickened Garcia to have to deal with Burnett, but somebody had to do it and I think Garcia did a reasonable job given the circumstances. For interest's sake, here is a photograph I took of Burnett's vehicle in a PacBell parking lot early on while investigating the case. The view is through a chain link fence in the foreground. That black strip you placed on the top of your license plate didn't cover up "Virginia" quite well enough, and parking way in back didn't hide you from my view. UPDATE 4/12/2001 5PM: Today a grand jury indicted a man in the road rage killing of Leo. The man has now been named publicly but his name isn't important at this point.
UPDATE 12/21/2000 10AM: This matter is still being pursued. UPDATE 5/3/2000 10AM: A message from Leo's mom, Sara McBurnett: First I would like to thank everyone who has responded to this website with their kind words of sympathy, and for the generous donations sent to the reward fund at the Santa Clara Humane Society. Believe me, I am more frustrated by the lack of progress made in this case than anybody. Closure of some sort would greatly help to ease the pain of my grief and sorrow for the loss of my beloved Leo. There is good news, and there is bad news regarding this case. The bad news is: the criminal who killed my dog may never be caught. This is unfortunately a very real possibility in every criminal investigation where a perpetrator has fled the scene of a crime. The outpouring of love and good will from people around the world has been truly astounding. Leo will live on in the hearts of many, and many dogs will live on with a better quality of life because of my precious little boy who I loved with all my heart. I miss him terribly, and I would do anything to get him back, but because I cannot, I must focus on the good that has come of such...
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