Man charged with murder of Richmond police officer Seara Burton dies in prison
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The man charged with the murder of a Richmond police officer nearly two years ago has died in prison.
Phillip Lee was found unresponsive in his cell at the Pendleton Correctional Facility just after 12:45 a.m. Thursday and he was later pronounced deceased, Indiana State Police said in a release.
Lee was accused of shooting 28-year-old Richmond K-9 officer Seara Burton in the head during a traffic stop on Aug. 10. Burton died of her injuries on Sept. 18, just over two weeks after she was taken off life support.
He was due to appear in court on June 13 for a pretrial conference. A jury trial was scheduled for February 2025.
State police say toxicology results and an autopsy are pending but foul play is not suspected.
Per policy, Pendleton Correctional Facility requested the assistance of the Indiana State Police to investigate the death.
Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter issued the below statement Thursday afternoon:
“In this moment, my heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Officer Seara Burton and her family. With the news of her murderer being found dead in his prison cell today, I hope this brings some measure of peace and closure to them as they continue to navigate their loss.”
News release
“The Richmond Police Department was informed that inmate Phillip Lee was found deceased in his cell at the Indiana Department of Corrections while he was awaiting trial for the murder of Officer Seara Burton. As this community is well aware, Officer Burton was wounded on August 10, 2022, while courageously performing her duties as a Richmond Police Department officer, and inmate Phillip Lee was criminally charged for his actions the next day. Despite valiant efforts, which were nothing short of a miracle, Officer Burton succumbed to her injury on September 18, 2022.
“The Richmond community and beyond continue to grieve the loss of Officer Burton. We will never forget her dedication, bravery, and selfless service. Officer Burton’s memory and legacy remain a guiding light for all of us.
“Looking forward, we are committed to honoring Officer Burton’s legacy by working with State Representative Brad Barrett to name the U.S. 27 bridge over Interstate 70 the ‘Officer Seara Burton Memorial Bridge.’ This is an opportunity to honor Officer Burton’s service and sacrifice. Officer Burton always displayed the utmost integrity and represented the best in law enforcement officers, and we intend to ensure her memory lives on through the bridge naming process.
“We ask that you please keep Officer Burton’s family and fellow law enforcement officers in your thoughts and prayers as they process these developments. As we move forward, let us carry the spirit of Officer Burton’s dedication and bravery in our hearts. Let us continue to uphold the values she embodied, ensuring her legacy of service and sacrifice is never forgotten. Her impact on this community is immeasurable, and her memory will forever inspire us to strive for excellence and compassion in our duties. In doing so, we honor her by continuing to live lives and build a community that strives to be worthy of her sacrifice.”
Adam Blanton, assistant chief of police/chief public information officer for Richmond Police Department