In the quiet community of Chesapeake, Virginia, the life of 37-year-old Sammi Jo Burkhart was tragically cut short on February 3, 2021. Remembered by her loved ones as a beautiful person and the life of the party, her infectious laughter and radiant smile brought joy to many. She had a love for the beach, where she would spend time collecting sea glass.
Her sudden and violent death left a void in the hearts of her family and friends, who now hold on to the cherished memories of her vibrant spirit.
The circumstances of Sammi Jo's death unfolded as a grim tale of domestic violence. On that fateful day, Chesapeake police found her suffering from a gunshot wound in a neighborhood on Chesapeake Avenue. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she succumbed to her injuries. The investigation quickly pointed to her 40-year-old ex-boyfriend, Mark O'Leary. According to her family, their relationship had been troubled, and she had recently ended it. They revealed that there were early signs of a dangerous dynamic and that O'Leary had a known history of domestic violence.
Following a two-day manhunt, law enforcement located and arrested Mark O'Leary in the neighboring city of Norfolk. He was subsequently charged with a litany of serious offenses, including first-degree murder, armed burglary, abduction, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The investigation brought to light a disturbing pattern of alleged abusive behavior. Just a week before Burkhart's murder, Norfolk police had charged O'Leary with abduction and domestic violence in a separate incident involving another woman who had filed for an emergency protective order against him. This prior incident raised questions and frustrations for Burkhart's family, who believe more could have been done to prevent her death. They have since channeled their grief into a call for legislative action to better protect victims of domestic violence, hoping that Sammi Jo's legacy could be one of positive change that prevents other families from experiencing such a profound loss.
