Photo: Former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke
Former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke—convicted of trying to cover up his beating of a man with sex toys during a police interrogation—paid a woman $400 for “rough sex” in a home near the location where the bodies of four prostitutes were discovered, according to a New York attorney who claims this and other circumstances link Burke to these unsolved murders.
According to a FoxNews report, Attorney John Ray held a press conference yesterday along with a woman identified only as “Leanne.” Ray represents the family of another woman, a former escort, whose body was also found near the other four bodies, whose death is also believed to be a homicide. Attorney Ray believes Leanne’s testimony implicates Burke.
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Leanne told reporters that in 2011, she was paid to have sex with former police chief Burke in a Long Island home near a few miles from the location where the bodies of four dead prostitutes were discovered (in 2010 and 2011). She also said that Burke hired her again two months later for oral sex. Leanne said Burke “dehumanized” her, acted aggressively, and called her a “whore” while throwing money at her.
Burke had sex with convicted prostitute/drug dealer in his patrol car
Burke has been linked to prostitution before. An internal affairs investigation conducted in 1995 found that Burke, who was a sergeant at the time, had a relationship with Lowrita Rickenbacker—a convicted drug dealer and prostitute.
NY Newsday has published a copy of the internal affairs report.
The report states that Burke had sex with Rickenbacker in his patrol car at least once. Despite his concerning behavior, Burke ultimately became the Suffolk County police chief in 2012.
No official statement, but source says Burke is a “person of interest”
While the FBI declined to comment on any potential link between Burke and the homicides of the four prostitutes, FoxNews reported that a law enforcement source “with knowledge” of the investigation said that Burke has recently become a “person of interest” in the murders.
Burke is currently serving a 46-month prison sentence for his cover up of beating a man who stole sex toys from his police vehicle—with the said sex toys—during a police interrogation.
LawOfficer.com previously covered Burke’s sentencing.