In the quiet town of Foley, Alabama, 70-year-old retired school teacher Tommy Burdette was killed on Sunday, December 14, 2014. A neighbor who lived in the same cul-de-sac, 33-year-old Brandon Michael Bledsoe, and his 21-year-old girlfriend, Heather Elizabeth Raftery, were later arrested and charged with his murder. The incident began as a burglary but quickly escalated to a violent homicide that ended with Burdette's house being set on fire with his body inside.
The investigation
revealed a grim sequence of events. Bledsoe, who had previously borrowed money from Burdette, planned to rob him to repay the debt. Armed with a. 22 caliber rifle, Bledsoe entered Burdette's home while he was asleep and shot him multiple times in the upper torso and neck. One shot was reportedly fired after Bledsoe covered Burdette's face with a pillow. Following the murder, Bledsoe and Raftery stole several items from the home, including two televisions, cash, and jewelry. To cover their tracks, they doused the inside of the residence and Burdette's body with gasoline and set the house ablaze.
The investigation moved swiftly, aided by a tip from the public about burn marks on Bledsoe's face. This led to his and Raftery's arrest on December 19, 2014. Upon being apprehended, Bledsoe provided a full confession, detailing his and Raftery's involvement in the crime. Stolen items and the murder weapon were later recovered from Raftery's home. Both were charged with capital murder and burglary.
During legal proceedings, Raftery's attorney argued that she did not participate in the shooting and had no prior criminal record. It was also suggested that she was in a controlling and abusive relationship with Bledsoe. Despite these claims, both were denied bail. Ultimately, Brandon Bledsoe pleaded guilty to capital murder and received a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. In exchange for his plea and cooperation in the prosecution of Raftery, the state agreed not to seek the death penalty.
