20/20 Tonight

“A Model Murder”: 20/20 Reports on Kelsey Turner & Thomas Burchard Homicide August 30 2024

by · August 29, 2024

On August 30, 2024, ABC’s “20/20” will air a riveting two-hour episode titled “A Model Murder,” focusing on the dramatic and tragic story of Kelsey Turner and the murder of Dr. Thomas Burchard. This episode, airing from 9:01 to 11:00 p.m. EDT, delves into a tale of betrayal, greed, and murder, involving an Instagram model and a child psychiatrist whose relationship ended in a brutal death.

Kelsey Turner, a glamorous Instagram model with thousands of followers, was living a life funded by Dr. Thomas Burchard, a 71-year-old child psychiatrist from Salinas, California. However, this seemingly transactional relationship took a deadly turn when Burchard’s body was found in an abandoned car in the Nevada desert. This “20/20” episode provides an in-depth examination of the events leading up to the murder, the investigation, and the subsequent trials of Turner and her accomplices.

The Relationship Between Kelsey Turner and Dr. Thomas Burchard

Kelsey Turner, born on May 5, 1993, in Norfolk, Virginia, was a model known for her appearances in magazines such as Playboy, Maxim, and OneTen. Behind her social media persona and modeling career lay a series of financial struggles. In 2019, she was a single mother in her mid-20s, relying heavily on the financial support of Dr. Thomas Burchard. Their relationship, which began with Burchard offering to help Turner financially, soon spiraled into something much darker.

Burchard, known for his generosity, began funding Turner’s lavish lifestyle, reportedly providing her with more than $750,000 over several years. Friends and family were concerned about Burchard’s involvement with Turner, describing the relationship as unusual and exploitative. Judy Earp, Burchard’s longtime girlfriend, revealed that the psychiatrist’s interactions with Turner were driven by his desire to help her through difficult times, though it eventually became clear that Turner was taking advantage of his kindness.

The Murder of Dr. Thomas Burchard

The turning point came in March 2019 when Burchard decided to visit Turner in Las Vegas to confront her about the misuse of his financial support. According to court documents and interviews, Burchard intended to sever ties with Turner. However, this decision proved fatal. Upon his arrival, tensions escalated. Turner, enraged by Burchard’s intention to cut her off financially, allegedly orchestrated a violent confrontation.

Turner, along with her boyfriend Jon Logan Kennison, and their roommate Diana Peña, were accused of luring Burchard to a home where he was brutally beaten with a baseball bat. Peña, who later became a key witness for the prosecution, testified that Turner directed Kennison to assault Burchard after discovering text messages on his phone that she found threatening. Burchard’s body was later found in the trunk of Turner’s Mercedes-Benz, abandoned in the Nevada desert. The autopsy confirmed that Burchard died from blunt force trauma.

The Investigation and Legal Proceedings

The investigation into Burchard’s murder began shortly after his body was discovered. Detectives Mitchell Dosch and Ryan Jaeger of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department led the case, piecing together a complex web of deceit and violence. Their findings, along with Peña’s testimony, provided crucial evidence against Turner and Kennison. Peña, initially implicated in the crime, decided to cooperate with the authorities in exchange for a reduced sentence. Her detailed account of the events surrounding Burchard’s murder was instrumental in unraveling the truth.

The trials that followed were filled with dramatic revelations. In June 2022, Kennison pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, receiving a sentence of 18 to 45 years in prison. Turner initially maintained her innocence but later accepted an Alford plea, acknowledging that the prosecution had enough evidence to convict her without admitting guilt. In January 2023, she was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison. Peña, who pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder, received a three-year probation sentence.

The Aftermath and Implications

The murder of Dr. Thomas Burchard left a significant impact on all those involved, especially his fiancée Judy Earp, who spoke at Turner’s sentencing. Earp expressed profound grief and concern for her safety, fearing that Turner might retaliate upon release. The case also highlighted issues of manipulation, financial exploitation, and the darker sides of relationships that appear glamorous on the surface.

Turner is currently incarcerated at the Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center in Nevada. The episode of “20/20” titled “A Model Murder” aims to shed light on the complex dynamics of this case, featuring interviews with key figures, including detectives, friends of Turner, and Earp. This program promises to provide viewers with a comprehensive look into the events that led to the tragic end of a man who was known for his kindness and generosity.

Conclusion

The murder of Dr. Thomas Burchard by Kelsey Turner and her accomplices serves as a chilling reminder of how relationships built on deception and greed can lead to tragic outcomes. The “20/20” episode provides a thorough examination of the case, offering insights into the motivations and actions of those involved. As this story unfolds on screen, it presents an opportunity to reflect on the vulnerabilities that can arise in relationships and the devastating consequences that can follow when trust is betrayed.

Viewers can tune into ABC on August 30, 2024, for a deeper understanding of this shocking case, with the episode available for streaming on Hulu the following day.

More Feature Articles

Avatar photo

Ryan Gill

Ryan is a passionate follower of true crime television programs, reporting on and providing in-depth investigations on mysteries in the criminal world.

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *