Daisy Mae Hayes, a 74-year-old resident of Tierrasanta, San Diego, was tragically murdered on December 14, 2011. The incident occurred in her home, where she was fatally shot by her great-niece, Tiffany Nicole Burney. Burney, who was 23 years old at the time, had a history of mental health issues, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia. On the night of the murder, Burney arrived at Hayes' home in the early hours, ostensibly to use the bathroom.
However, she emerged with a gun and shot Hayes multiple times in the face. Burney fled the scene but later turned herself in to the police after checking into a hospital.
The case against Burney revealed a complex interplay of mental illness and familial tensions. Burney had been hearing voices since she was 11 and had been hospitalized for mental health issues multiple times. Despite her mental health struggles, a jury found her sane at the time of the murder. During the trial, Burney's defense argued that she was in a psychotic state and delusional when she killed Hayes, who was like a second grandmother to her. However, the prosecution contended that Burney was motivated by anger and jealousy, feeling that she did not measure up to the rest of her family.
In March 2017, Burney was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. The court proceedings included emotional testimonies from family members, and Burney herself made several outbursts, claiming she killed Hayes for God and expressing her belief that she was brilliant but misunderstood. Despite her mental health issues, the court concluded that Burney knew her actions were wrong and illegal. The case highlighted the challenges of addressing mental illness within the criminal justice system and the devastating impact of such crimes on families.
