Homicide Report > Lily Burk, 17
Lily Burk, 17
Died July 25, 2009 at 6:28 a.m.
Lily Burk, a 17-year old white girl, was found slain in her car in a parking lot surrounded by warehouses near downtown Los Angeles on the morning of Saturday, July 25, authorities said.
Burk, a student at Oakwood School in North Hollywood, had left her Los Feliz home Friday afternoon about 2:30 p.m to run an errand. More than an hour after picking up exams for her mother, who is an attorney and an adjunct professor at Southwestern University School of Law on Wilshire Boulevard, Burk made separate calls to her parents.
She asked them how to get cash using her credit card at an ATM, police said. Her parents told her to come home.
When she had not returned by 5 p.m., her parents became worried. They contacted Los Angeles police that night. Her body was found in the front passenger seat of her black Volvo shortly after 6 a.m. on Saturday.
Sgt. Miguel Arana of the Los Angeles Police Department said there were signs of a struggle inside the car. Burk appeared to have head injuries from striking the passenger side of the front windshield, but the car did not show signs of having been in a crash, he said.
Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz said that the cause of death appeared to be blunt-force trauma and that there was "strong evidence" that Burk was killed by 5 p.m. Friday. He declined to disclose more details.
Updated 11:30 a.m. Monday: Los Angeles police arrested Charlie Samuel, a 50-year old black man in connection with Burk's slaying. Sources, who spoke to The Times on the condition that they not be named because the investigation was ongoing, said detectives believed the motive was robbery and that Burk appeared to have been abducted from that area.
Samuel was arrested at 5:30 p.m. Friday on suspicion of possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia on 3rd Street in downtown Los Angeles — at least 12 hours before Lily's body was discovered nearby in her black Volvo at 5th and Alameda streets. While in custody, he was arrested again Sunday at 9 p.m. in connection with the homicide, according to sheriff's jail records. He is being held without bail.
— Margot Roosevelt and Ruben Vives
Read more: Girl, 17, found slain in car near downtown L.A.
Police continue search for killer of 17-year old Lily Burk
Suspect in Lily Burk's slaying has history of violent crimes, drug problems, police say
Photo: Lily Burk. Credit: Sarah Faulk
- Neighborhood: Downtown
- Age: 17
- Gender: Female
- Cause: Stabbing
- Day of the week: Saturday
- Agency: LAPD Central
- Race/Ethnicity: White
- Circumstance: Robbery
- Crime scene: Parked vehicle
22 reader comments about Lily Burk
Poor young lady. May she rest in peace. How awful!!
March 1, 2010 at 9:45 p.m.
R.I.P, how cruel to take such a young girls life, i'm speachless about this meaningless violence
May 9, 2010 at 10:49 a.m.
william, read this blog long enough and you will get used to it.
Sad to say.
May 9, 2010 at 1:32 p.m.
They should make an exception and bring back the gas chamber for this piece of garbage.
May 22, 2010 at 10:41 p.m.
White girl. Black man???? Why does that have to be printed?
May 25, 2010 at 10:39 p.m.
Graham:
Regular readers of the Homicide Report know that since it began in January 2007 the report has always included the race/ethnicity of both the victim and, when known, the alleged killer. The Homicide Report departs from the Los Angeles Times style, which normally would preclude the inclusion of race/ethnicity, in the interest of presenting the most complete and accurate demographic picture of who is dying in homicides in Los Angeles County. A more thorough explanation of the rationale is available in our FAQ section, as well as directly above the comment form you used to submit your question. I'm also including it here for the convenience of new readers:
http://projects.latimes.com/homicide-report/about/#race
May 25, 2010 at 11:17 p.m.
This is why 'white flight' exists. Because we read about many whites being murdered by minorities and want to protect our children. As long as we're guilt-tripped into not talking about racical matters when it comes to crime, we're going to continue getting abused.
June 4, 2010 at 12:38 a.m.
Only if she would have been given a chance.... So, she was killed for maybe 40.00 bucks? Because it does not state anything about being sexually abused. This is sad, she was so young! There are so many murderes in this world!
June 11, 2010 at 12:11 p.m.
To the Burk family: To read of this horrific tragedy breaks any parents heart. May God comfort you in the loss of your daughter Lilly. I can only express sadness.
Bill
Kansas
Aug. 11, 2010 at 7:54 a.m.
Maybe that's why we ought to be worried. It's not a simple racism 101 thing.
Oct. 4, 2010 at 11:58 a.m.
Thers Alot Of Places Like Ware LilyBurk Was Found All Over That Area Of Los Angeles ,I Pass through ther allthe time i passed by the morning lily was found i was curious and i went back to see wathad aappened
but i couldnt get close ,when i got home i saw it on the news .
i told my wife i saw a girl in a car suronded by police and she wasnt moving it was lily .i wish i could have met lily
Oct. 8, 2010 at 10:13 p.m.
Oh Lily, the NW will never be the same with out you. We miss you.
Nov. 24, 2010 at 7:02 p.m.
This is why my children do not want to have children of their own.
Jan. 13, 2011 at 8:12 a.m.
well Im sure her mother doesnt want to represent any n... anymore
Jan. 20, 2011 at 9:23 p.m.
give me a break. Can't you come up with something better to say. Geez!
July 27, 2011 at 9 a.m.
This really sucks.. Poor girl.. May she rest in PEACE...
Dec. 7, 2011 at 4:07 p.m.
I remember seeing this case on the news and crying about it...I too have daughters who are coming of age and I know the time will come when I will have to take off the leash and let them find their way...Its hard for me with my children still living so I know its very difficult for the parents of this young and growing woman to deal with her being TAKEN away so early....It seems that this young woman had a promising future based on the fact that she was already working on her education to better herself...now its gone and some BUM gets to sit in jail for who knows how long before he is put out of his misery...and over what?...a few dollars...I believe that if California would move faster with death penalties people would not be so quick to commit heinious acts in this State...(I know wishful thinking)...may this young lady reat in peace and find glory on the other side...May God help to keep those that loved her stable and may it bring them together as one unit...Life is precious and live every moment as if it is your last...LOVE LIVE LET GO AND LET GOD
Dec. 9, 2011 at 12:45 p.m.
i only wish i wouldhave made a u turn
and went back cause i was driving by alameda st and 5th wen i saw alot of homless people looking in a car that looked like it was abandoned.i use alameda st to get me back and forth to hollywood and it was maybe 3am on my way home i thought some one stold the car and left it ther.but wen i saw the news i jumped in my truck and went back it was taped off by police .thats wen i knew i should have turned around.also that street is known 4 organized crime the homless are used as lookouts,i was born and raised in LOS ANGELES i know that street very well .i took my nephew ther about 6yrs ago and let know if he doesent finish school he would end up living ther ,he went on to join the army and now doing real good.ther was always atleast 50 homless people hanging around at all times.the city shouldhave already cleaned that area but like i said it was known 4 organized crime and we all know alot of police are also known 2 turn the other cheek .i've been at that gas station so many times and useto see police passing by but never turn in that block.i stopped at that gas station alot .and now that Lily is no longer with us they cleaned up that street now they have street lights and i saw 2 new cameras on the corner ware Lilt's car was parked.i wish i couldhave knew LILY BURKE. I SHOULDHAVE MADE A U TURN MAYBE I COULD HAVE HELPED IN 1 WAY OR THEE OTHER.
July 7, 2012 at 5:32 a.m.
To all the s--t talkers. She was a member of my family. SHAME ON YOU. and your time will come when your standing in front of god!!!!!!! i hope this doesn't happen to your family.
Dec. 2, 2012 at 5:45 p.m.
@Erica I really do not see any negatives comments towards Lily , I don't understand we're you anger is coming from.
Dec. 4, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
No there's NOT a lot of murders in 'this world', the majority of them are happening in this one insanely messed up town.
Jan. 23, 2013 at 9:27 p.m.
Build a huge WARD take all the bums in skid row fu)k it take all the bums there and burn them alllllllllll!!! pretty young lady so sad. BEWARE OF DTLA its a HYPE that place in nasty. I KNOW I WORK THERE PATROLLING
April 23, 2013 at 5:15 p.m.
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