possible serial killer Nathan Burkett arrested for Las Vegas slayings

possible serial killer Nathan Burkett arrested for Las Vegas slayings

Possible serial killer Nathan Burkett has been arrested in Mississippi and charged with murdering 2 women in Las Vegas.

Barbara Cox was murdered in April of 1978. She was only 22.

Tina Gayle Mitchell was murdered in February of 1994. She was only 27

Both women were strangled and their bodies dumped.

The alleged killer resided in the same apartment complex where Barbara Cox lived.

Now their families can rest a bit easier knowing that police believe their killer has been caught.

Possible serial killer Nathan Burkett has been arrested in these cold cases and charged in both of these woman’s deaths.

Burkett now 62 has been taken into custody.

He was arrested in Mississippi, where he is originally from, waived extradition and was transported to Las Vegas where he now resides at the Clark Country Detention Center.

All thanks to a grant to test backlogged DNA cases, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) were able to further investigate and solve the cold cases.

Although possible serial killer Burkett is from Mississippi, he is quite familiar with Las Vegas area and has a very extensive arrest record.

His charges, as compiled by My News 3 are detailed below.

- Murder and first degree kidnap; October 2003.
- Battery domestic violence with no prior conviction; December 2002.
- Contempt of court and battery domestic violence, three counts; July 2000.
- Ex-felon failure to change address; March 1998 and August 1997.
- Sexual Assault; July 1996.
- Battery; January 1994.
- Disorderly conduct; March 1979.
- Battery with a deadly weapon; February 1979.
- Battery, kidnap and rape; August 1978.
- Robbery; June 1978.
-  Protective custody – drunk in public; September 1977.
- Drunk in public; December 1976.
- Trespassing; July 1976.

And that’s not all. According to 8 News Now, Burkett was convicted of killing his own mother in 1982.

He was also convicted of voluntary manslaughter in Las Vegas for the strangulation death of 41-year-old Valetter Jean Bousley in 2002 and served 6 years in prison. (Burkett’s October 2003 arrest for murder and first-degree kidnapping was for killing Bousley)
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How many more victims will be attributed to the actions of Burkett?

At this point, police are not sure.  Las Vegas Homicide Lt. Ray Steiber. Says that “Mr. Burkett is a serial killer. We believe … he has committed many more.”

The question is how many more!

Right now Burkett is charged with 2 counts of murder and 2 charges of sexual assault for the 1978 death of Barbara Ann Cox and the 1994 death of Tina Gayle Mitchell

Barbara Cox’s mother, Betty Brown told 8 News Now “Thirty-four years is a long time. I was only 44 when my daughter got killed, and I’m now 78.”

The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information concerning these cases please contact the LVMPD Homicide Section at 828-3521 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

Burkett’s recent court appearance for his arraignment was delayed.

He is now expected in court for arraignment on Thursday, 8-16-12

 

 

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