Prosecutors Consider Death Penalty in Kansas City Murder Trial

By Sarah Harper

Published on July 05, 2009

Prosecutors are considering seeking the death penalty for Adrian Burks, 37, the man charged in the murder of four victims at a Kansas City, Kansas-area residence Monday. The victims were a three-year-old child, Juanita Castleberry-Bess, 3; her mother, Peggy Castleberry, 41; homeowner James Warren, 66; and Amanda Remmers, 21.

Burks went to the Warren residence, had a domestic dispute with one of the victims, and then killed them all. Police apprehended Burks Tuesday after chasing him from Kansas City, Missouri to Kansas City, Kansas.

Earlier Monday, a few hours before the murders, Burks was involved in a separate attack (he assaulted a man), for which he was charged with aggravated battery.

At the time of the murders, Burk was out of jail on pretrial release in another case (in which he faced charges of criminal threat and battery). Authorities began to suspect Burks when they discovered he had had a relationship with one of the victims.

Burks is charged with four counts of premeditated murder, felony fleeing, and eluding. He is being held with bail set at $2 million.

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