Loretta Doyle Burroughs Guilty Of Dismembering Husband, Storing Parts In Closet

MAYS LANDING, N.J. (AP) — A woman was convicted Tuesday of killing her husband, hiding his dismembered remains in plastic storage containers and taking them with her when she moved.

Loretta Doyle Burroughs, 63, was found guilty after brief deliberations by a jury, the Press of Atlantic City reports (http://bit.ly/1BuIgvA ). She was also convicted of hindering apprehension. Burroughs was arrested in May 2013 after Danny Burroughs’ remains were found inside the guest bedroom closet of the Ventnor home she was moving out of. She had pleaded not guilty.

She had told family and friends that he had left her for another woman shortly before the couple was due to move to Florida in August 2007.

Investigators began re-examining the case after an unidentified family member provided new information to the newly created Cold Case Unit of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office in February 2013.

Investigators testified during the trial that the containers were each wrapped in nine trash bags, with air fresheners, dryer sheets and scented beads to mask the smell.

Burroughs’ attorney, Anthony Previti, told jurors in his closing statement that the evidence presented at the trial didn’t prove anything.

“We don’t know who did it. We don’t know why they did it. We don’t know when they did it,” he said. “We don’t even know, beyond a reasonable doubt, that it was a murder in the first place.”

A medical examiner ruled Burroughs’ death a homicide and said the victim was attacked, but also said he couldn’t rule out natural causes because none of his organs were left.

Toxicology reports showed drugs in Burroughs system, include amphetamines.

Previti suggested Danny Burroughs could have been smoking meth. Levy said the victim had shoulder surgery shortly before he disappeared, and that it was his wife who was medicating him.

“You don’t overdose on crystal meth and then cut yourself up,” Levy said.

Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Michael A. Donio scheduled sentencing for April 22. Burroughs could face life in prison.

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Information from: The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.), http://ift.tt/McPxqr