UPDATE: Indiana State Police sent this bulletin at 06/05/2017 10:53 AM EDT
Washington County – This morning shortly after 8:00 am, the Monroe County, IN Sheriff’s Department received a tip that Richard Lee Burton, Jr’s vehicle was parked at the Blackwell Horse Camp in Monroe County near State Road #446. When deputies approached the vehicle they found a body believed to be that of Richard Lee Burton, Jr. deceased in his vehicle. The official confirmation of identification on Richard Lee Burton, Jr will be made by the Monroe County Coroner’s Office.
This investigation is continuing but, information discovered from last night’s investigation by Indiana State Police Detectives lead investigators to believe Richard Lee Burton, Jr. was responsible for the deaths of all three victims located inside of the residence at 5882 South Beck’s Mill Road in rural Washington County. If information is discovered that changes this belief, Indiana State Police Detectives will obviously follow those leads.
The cause of death to Richard Lee Burton, Jr will be released by the Monroe County Coroner. The information on the identities and causes of death to the three bodies located on Beck’s Mill Road will not be released until the autopsies are completed in Salem tomorrow morning.
A news briefing will be held by me at the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg at 12:30 pm on today’s date. The briefing will take place inside of the post in the training room. No interviews will be conducted or further information will be released until this briefing.
Below is a copy the original news release.
Indiana State Police sent this bulletin at 06/05/2017 12:29 AM EDT
Washington County – Around 4:30 pm on Sunday, 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 residence and upon knocking on the door 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 officers locating two other bodies inside of the home.
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. Officers are looking for Richard Lee Burton, Junior, a 47-year-old white male. He has long brown hair, sometimes worn in a ponytail, 5’-09” tall with blue eyes. Richard Lee Burton was residing at the residence where the crime took place. Two photos of Richard Lee Burton Jr. are attached to this release.
Information received during the initial investigation reveals Richard Lee Burton, Jr. 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. An actual photo of the vehicle is attached to this release.
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, Indiana. These autopsies are scheduled for Tuesday morning.
This investigation is continuing with no further information available for release at this time.
All Subjects are Innocent Until and Unless Proven Guilty in a Court of Law