On November 5, 2021, emergency responders in Indianapolis, Indiana, were dispatched to a residence on East Vermont Street following reports of a fire. Upon arrival, firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze at the duplex near New York Street and Sherman Drive. During their sweep of the property, they discovered the body of a 24-year-old White male, later identified as Charles Ralph Burgess Jr., located on the basement steps.
The situation was immediately flagged as suspicious, and homicide detectives began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The Marion County Coroner’s Office later determined that the victim, who was known to friends and family as 'CJ' or 'Beezy,' had suffered multiple traumas prior to the fire. Reports indicated that he had been shot and stabbed before the residence was set ablaze, leading officials to rule the death a homicide. As the investigation unfolded, police gathered evidence from the scene and the surrounding neighborhood. Surveillance footage obtained from nearby homes reportedly showed a woman walking in the area wearing a Halloween mask as a disguise and carrying a gas can.
Detectives eventually identified a suspect, 27-year-old Brittany Snellbaker, also referred to in some reports as Snelbaker. Authorities alleged that she had targeted Burgess because he owed her money related to living arrangements in the home. Witness statements played a crucial role in the case, with one individual claiming Snellbaker had confessed to the killing. She was subsequently apprehended during a traffic stop and faced charges including murder, arson, and arson resulting in serious bodily injury.
Charles Ralph Burgess Jr. was remembered by his loved ones for his compassionate nature and willingness to help others, often described as someone who 'collected stray people' in need of support. A protective big brother who enjoyed fishing and tattoos, he left behind a large family, including his parents and numerous siblings. His mother expressed her devastation to local news outlets, noting the tragedy of having to bury her son when she had expected him to one day bury her. At the time of the initial reports, Snellbaker was being held without bond at the Marion County Jail as the legal process moved forward.
