INDIANAPOLIS — A man was sentenced Thursday for the killing of a woman found dead in a Fountain Square church.
Robert Burks was ordered to serve 80 years in prison on a murder conviction in the November 2019 death of 58-year-old Julie Morey, according to the the Marion County Prosecutor.
He was found guilty in February of murdering Morey after a one-day trial.
Morey's body was discovered on Nov. 3, 2019, on a couch in the Religious Education Center building of St. Patrick Catholic Church.
The Marion County Coroner’s Office determined Morey died from strangulation and multiple stab wounds.
During the investigation, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department detectives learned Morey had recently filed a police report alleging Burks punched her in the face, causing her to develop black eyes, according to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.
A forensics expert found Burks’ DNA on Morey’s hands, face, neck and underneath her fingernails
“This case was solved through a true community effort,” Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement. “Witnesses and nearby businesses played a crucial role throughout the investigation and prosecution, which ultimately led to justice for Ms. Morey and her family.”
-
IMPD: Armed robbers break into man’s shed, threaten to kill him
IMPD is searching for the armed robbers who broke into a homeowner's shed, pointed a gun at him, and threatened to kill him. It happened on the city's southeast side near Garfield Park.How a family bond is helping drive Fever star NaLyssa Smith forward
For NaLyssa Smith, being an athlete is something that you can say she was born to do. Her family has helped her become the basketball star she is today.Colts team up with former player Bjorn Werner to expand fanbase in Europe
Former Colt and first-round draft pick Bjorn Werner will serve as the official Colts ambassador in Germany and Austria as the team aims to grow internationally.Expect construction along Pendleton Pike as INDOT works on safety upgrades
INDOT says it is expected to focus on left turns to high-traffic areas, improving safety and traffic flow.