In the late summer of 2014, the small town of Brinkley, Arkansas, was unsettled by the death of 62-year-old Carl Lynn Burrow. A White male, Burrow was a lifelong resident of the area, known for his love of the outdoors and his dedication to his family farm. He had graduated from Brinkley High School in 1970 and continued the family tradition of farming, eventually cultivating his own land.
He was married for nearly 32 years and had a daughter and a son.
On August 22, 2014, Carl Burrow was found dead in his home from what was determined to be a result of gun violence. The initial shock within the community quickly turned to disbelief as the investigation pointed towards a suspect from within his own family. Authorities identified his 29-year-old son, Dustin Heath Burrow, as the primary suspect in the killing. The tragedy was compounded by allegations that Dustin had also committed an armed robbery against his 91-year-old grandmother, Carl's mother.
Following the discovery of his father's body, Dustin Burrow fled the area, sparking a manhunt that extended beyond the borders of Arkansas. Law enforcement officials tracked him to Fort Collins, Colorado, where he was located by Colorado Highway Patrol Troopers near a homeless shelter. His truck had been found abandoned along Interstate 25.
Dustin Heath Burrow was taken into custody and subsequently charged with capital murder in the death of his father and aggravated robbery in the incident involving his grandmother. Arkansas State Police special agents traveled to Colorado to begin the extradition process to bring him back to Arkansas to face the charges. The events sent a ripple of sorrow and shock through the Brinkley community, leaving friends and family to mourn the loss of a man described as a true outdoorsman who deeply loved his land.
