Sarah Davis, 80
Byron Burch
Death penalty sought in Brooksville schoolteacher slaying
1 day after he tried and failed to convince a jury to sentence a murder convict to death, the same prosecutor announced he was seeking capital punishment in another homicide case.
Byron Keith Burch, 39, was indicted in June on charges of 1st-degree murder and aggravated robbery.
Burch was arrested in connection with the May 15 slaying of retired schoolteacher and former Hernando County Sheriff's Office employee Sarah Davis.
"After consideration of all the facts and circumstances behind the murder of Mrs. Davis and his prior contact with the criminal justice system, I think seeking the death penalty for Mr. Burch is appropriate," said Assistant State Attorney Pete Magrino.
He filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty Thursday morning. Copies were submitted to the public defender's office and to the Hernando County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
On Wednesday, Magrino went before a 12-panel jury and asked for a death sentence for 35-year-old Robert Jardin, who was convicted in the October 2006 killings of Patrick, 84, and Evelyn DePalma, 79. The couple were fatally stabbed in their rural home in Masaryktown.
Jurors recommended life in prison.
Davis, 80, died from injuries similar to the DePalmas, according to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies arrived at 815 St. Francis St. in south Brooksville for a well-being check and discovered her lying in the bathroom.
Burch was arrested the day Davis' body was found. Her south Brooksville neighbors told authorities to be on the lookout for Burch, who was known to Davis and often worked in her yard, according to reports.
Deputies said Davis hired Burch to perform jobs around her house because she wanted to help him after seeing him hocking food that had been given to him by a local church.
Burch is suspected of stealing Davis' jewelry and then killing her after she tried to stop him. Authorities said he sold the jewelry so he could get drugs.
Burch has a lengthy criminal history dating back to when he was convicted of sexual battery at 16 years old, according to court records.
During his adult life, he was convicted of at least nine felonies, including battery against a law enforcement officer, battery against a correctional officer, resisting arrest, cocaine possession and grand theft.
In May 2005, he was convicted of strong armed robbery and sentenced to 15 years.
In December 2009, the charge was dropped after an appellate court overturned the conviction and the victim, who was homeless, could not be located for a new trial.
5 months later after his release from prison, he was charged in the Davis homicide.
(source: Tbo.com)
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