GARRISON BURCHETT - 17 months (2009)/ Convicted: Mother; Lori Burchett - Riverside CA

A Riverside woman who murdered and disemboweled her 2-year-old son
was sane at the time of the crime, a Riverside jury found today.
A seven-man, five-woman panel deliberated roughly two days before
finding that Lori Ann Burchett, 40, was not psychologically impaired
when she killed her son, Garrison, on Feb. 23, 2009.
The same jury found Burchett guilty last month of first-degree murder
and assault on a child resulting in great bodily injury. Because
Burchett had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, jurors were
required to hear testimony in what amounted to a second trial.
Riverside County Superior Court Judge Jean Leonard set a sentencing date for April 8.
Burchett faces 40 years to life in prison.
The defendant’s former husband, Greg Burchett, testified during the
sanity phase that the defendant was a heavy marijuana smoker and used
prescription painkillers in the last year of their five-year marriage,
which ended shortly after Garrison’s death.
Lori Burchett was also a fanatic about taking herbal supplements,
carrying around a suitcase full of pills designed to enrich blood and
colon cleanse, the witness said.
He said his then-wife’s habits strained the family budget
and created friction between the couple.
Greg Burchett said he and his former wife often had stimulating conversations
about “the universe, God and the ego.”
However, in the weeks before their 2-year-old’s killing, the witness
said his wife became angry when he “didn’t respond the way she wanted.”
The defendant asked each day of the trial to remain in her jail cell,
which Leonard permitted. The jury never saw her.

Read more: http://www.swrnn.com/southwest-riverside/2011-02-09/news/jury-riverside-woman-sane-when-she-murdered-disemboweled-2-yr-old-son#ixzz1DZpXaiKe

With her defense attorney unprepared, sentencing was postponed Friday
for a Riverside woman who murdered and disemboweled her 2-year- old
son.Lori Ann Burchett is facing 25 years to life in prison for killing Garrison Burchett on Feb. 23, 2009.In
January, a seven-man, five-woman jury convicted Lori Burchett of
first-degree murder and assault on a child resulting in great bodily
injury.The same panel determined the 40-year-old defendant was
sane at the time of the crime, despite defense arguments to the
contrary.Deputy Public Defender Gail O'Rane is seeking a retrial
for her client and another sanity phase. The attorney informed Riverside
County Superior Court Judge Jean Leonard today that she was not
prepared to argue her motions and requested a week's delay to complete
her research. Leonard rescheduled the sentencing hearing for April 15.Burchett is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.According
to the defendant's ex-husband, she was a heavy marijuana smoker and
used prescription painkillers in the last year of their five-year
marriage, which ended shortly after the toddler's death.Lori
Burchett was also a fanatic about taking herbal supplements, carrying
around a suitcase full of pills designed to enrich blood and colon
cleanse, the witness said.Greg Burchett said his then-wife's habits strained the family budget and created friction between the couple.In
the weeks before their 2-year-old's murder, the witness said his wife
became angry when he "didn't respond the way she wanted."The jury
never saw Lori Burchett, who requested -- and was granted -- permission
to remain in her jail cell each day of the month-long criminal
proceedings.According to trial testimony, she struck Garrison
several times in the head with an urn, knocking him unconscious and
probably killing him. She then disemboweled him.Deputy District Attorney Will Robinson described the 2-year-old's death as "not only bizarre, but methodical."The
woman's eldest son, 17-year-old Nick Pate, testified that on the
morning Garrison was killed, his mother was behaving erratically,
accusing him of smoking crack.He testified that she took Garrison
into the master bedroom of their Canyon Crest residence and stayed in
there for over an hour, refusing to talk to him.According to the
teen, he grew concerned and walked into the room, where he discovered
Garrison's lifeless body. The child's underpants had been pulled off,
and his stomach had been sliced open at the belly button.The
teenager said he "started freaking out'' and confronted his mother, who
bolted out of the bathroom naked and screamed that she had set Garrison
"free."According to testimony, Burchett used an arrowhead to stab Garrison and partially pull out his intestines.O'Rane said her client acted "impulsively and without premeditation."The
attorney said Burchett's actions immediately after the murder --
running around nude and telling her oldest son the world was going to
end in 2012 -- proved she was not in her right mind.
http://www.kpsplocal2.com/Content/Headlines/story/UDPATE-Sentencing-Delayed-for-Mom-Who-Killed-Child/HKAImmNO7kGd6KLTmC9Ijg.cspx

Sentencing today for Riverside woman who murdered and disemboweled 2-year-old son

Valley News - ‎8 hours ago‎
In January, a seven-man, five-woman jury convicted Lori Burchett of first-degree murder and assault on a child resulting in great bodily injury.

Use this link for the full Valley News story

Valley News - ‎1 hour ago‎

Woman sentenced to 25-years-to-life for murdering and disemboweling 2-year-old son

Father of toddler killed by mom in Riverside tells story in book


Monday, November 11, 2013



RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- It's difficult to imagine the kind of pain a father must feel when his young child is murdered by the baby's own mother. After four years, a Riverside father is finally breaking his silence about his ordeal.

Garrison Burchett was just 17 months old when he was brutally murdered by his mother. The 2009 murder shocked the small Riverside neighborhood and left many, including the child's father, Greg Burchett, asking why. Burchett has written a book about the experience.

"There were a lot of things that led up to that point. I never thought she would have hurt her children. I expected something completely different," said Burchett.

The book, 'Missing the Links: A Mother's Murder of My 17-month-old Son Garrison,' is as heartbreaking as it is insightful. Burchett says he took a critical look at himself and believes he is partially to blame for his son's death.

"I knew she was in a troubled place. I tried to help her as much as I could, but I never thought that she would hurt one of her children," said Burchett.

In 2009, he spoke to Eyewitness News just one day after his son's murder.

"I've always been extremely supportive of my wife. I just don't understand what happened," he had said.
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His now ex-wife, Lori Burchett, was found guilty of their son's murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in 2011. Shortly after, Burchett began writing in a journal to vent his sorrow, frustration and guilt.

Urged by friends and mental health professionals, he turned it into a book in hopes of helping others.

"I should have called for help. I never want another father or another family member to go through this again. I am going to live with that for the rest of my life," said Burchett.

http://www.wogx.com/story/23936889/family-pastor-wants-to-talk-to-suspect-in-womans-death

My name is Greg, and I am Garrison's father.  Since I lost my son, I was aware of and have followed the conversations you have had in this forum.  Although some of the comments were based on information that was not factually correct, I really appreciate what justice4caylee (and everyone involved) has done to help people actually have these conversations.

I am not sure if you are interested, but I have written a book called "Missing The Links - A mother's murder of my 17-month old son Garrison" where I share my experiences, from a fathers perspective.  I think this is a unique book, and I think that it may be of interest.  I have self-published this book through AuthorHouse, and I am trying to get the word out that it is available.  You can find it online at B&N or Amazon, if you would like.

It is a tough subject to discuss, but I think that I succeeded in telling a good story. I was on the Dr. Phil show a year ago December (following the shootings in Connecticut) to discuss grief. Often these stories aren't even discussed, and I am so appreciative that I can share my story.

I would also like to hear from you.  If there is any way I can be of help to you or your cause, or if you have any questions or comments regarding the book, please let me know.  I invite readers to critically review the book (good, bad, or indifferent) and post the reviews online.

I would love to hear from you, and keep up the good work. Greg