Autopsies are scheduled for Tuesday on three victims of a mass murder that occurred
sometime over the weekend in a rural part of Washington county. Police are seeking the
public’s assistance in the matter as the Killer or Killers are thought to still be on the loose.
Sunday afternoon around 4:30, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department did a welfare
check at a residence located at 5882 South Beck’s Mill Road, in rural Washington County,
approximately fourteen miles from the City of Salem.
The welfare check was the result of a phone call with the caller being worried about the
well-being of the occupants of the residence.
When a deputy arrived at the home he noticed a deceased person inside of the residence.
Other police officers arrived at the scene and a search of the residence was completed
with police locating two other bodies inside of the dwelling.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Department requested the assistance of Indiana State
Police Detectives and Indiana State Police Crime Scene Investigators who have assumed
the investigation.
At this time, officers are looking for a person of interest in this investigation identified as
47 year old Richard Lee Burton, Junior. Burton is a white male with long brown hair,
sometimes worn in a ponytail, and stands at 5’-09” tall with blue eyes.
Richard Lee Burton was residing at the home where the crime took place.
Information received during the initial investigation reveals that Burton could be involved
in the deaths or could know something about the deaths of the three deceased victims
inside of the home. He should also be considered armed and dangerous.
Initial information also leads officers to believe Richard Lee Burton, Jr. could be en-route to
the states of Tennessee, Missouri or Texas. He is believed to be driving a blue 1997
Dodge Ram 4×4 2500 extended cab pickup truck.
The truck could possibly have a black or dark blue camper shell. The vehicle should be
bearing Indiana license plate, TK641MUK.
If anyone knows the location of Richard Lee Burton, Jr or sees him or his vehicle, they
should contact 911 immediately.
The identities of the victims and their causes of death will not be released until autopsies
are performed in Salem.
