Nathaniel Burkett
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Las Vegas, Nevada
TIME PERIOD
1978-2002
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
Nathaniel Burkett, an American serial killer, was active between 1978 and 2002, committing multiple murders in the Las Vegas Valley and killing his mother in Mississippi. His criminal activities included the sexual assault and strangulation of four women, with the first known victim being 22-year-old Barbara Ann Cox in April 1978. Burkett was apprehended for the final time in July 2012 after DNA testing linked him to the murders, leading to his conviction on three counts of murder in 2018. He died in prison on January 19, 2021, while serving a sentence of 10 years to life in Nevada. Significant evidence included DNA matches that connected Burkett to the crime scenes, which ultimately facilitated his conviction after decades of evasion.
Investigators and the public theorize that Nathaniel Burkett's violent tendencies may have been influenced by his traumatic childhood, including his battle with polio, which led to his nickname "Criptoe." There is speculation that his repeated run-ins with the law prior to his murders indicate a pattern of escalating violence, suggesting he may have been a ticking time bomb. Additionally, some believe that Burkett's crimes may have been motivated by a desire for control and power, particularly over vulnerable women.
The Dark Shadow of Nathaniel Burkett
Early Years of Nathaniel Burkett
Nathaniel Burkett’s life began in the small town of Picayune, Mississippi, in 1946. Though the specifics of his birth date remain a mystery, one fact was clear—Burkett's early years were challenging. Stricken by polio in his youth, he developed a limp that earned him the nickname "Criptoe." Little is known about his childhood, as Burkett seldom spoke of it, but his adult life unfolded across the states of Mississippi and Nevada, where he would become infamous.
A Trail of Violence
Burkett’s life was marred by a series of escalating crimes from 1976 to 1979, including battery, domestic violence, kidnapping, robbery, disorderly conduct, and rape. It was during this period, in April 1978, that the darkness truly took hold. In Las Vegas, Burkett brutally assaulted and strangled 22-year-old Barbara Ann Cox. Her naked body was found between a parking stall and a wall at 211 W. Wilson Ave, not far from where Burkett lived at the time. Discovered on April 22 by Burkett’s girlfriend, the crime scene was grisly, and Burkett, found nearby in a drunken stupor with a bottle of whiskey, proclaimed his innocence vehemently. Lack of evidence shielded him from further questioning or charges at that time.
In 1982, Burkett returned to Mississippi, where he committed an unthinkable act of violence against his own mother. On April 13, he set Ruby Burkett ablaze with gasoline, leading to her death. Arrested and initially indicted on a capital murder charge, the indictment was later reduced to manslaughter. Convicted in 1983, Burkett was given a 20-year prison sentence.
Return to Sin City
Released from prison in 1992, Burkett returned to Las Vegas, resuming his sinister activities. On February 20, 1994, he raped and strangled 27-year-old Tina Gayle Mitchell, attempting to obscure his crime by hiding her body beneath towels. A passerby later discovered the remains. Just a few months later, on May 14, 1994, he claimed another victim, 32-year-old Althea Williams, whose body he concealed under a clothesline near the previous crime scene.
Despite multiple arrests in 1997 and 1998 for failing to register as a felon and update his address, Burkett continued his lethal behavior. On August 19, 1999, 33-year-old Brigitte Mitchell Thomas vanished in Las Vegas, and Burkett emerged as a prime suspect. He struck again on September 4, 2002, luring 41-year-old Valetter Jean Bousley behind a church and strangling her to death. A witness came forward in March 2003, recounting how he saw Bousley follow Burkett, only for Burkett to return alone minutes later. This testimony, combined with additional evidence, led to Burkett’s arrest in October of that year. Convicted of voluntary manslaughter, he served six years in prison, during which his DNA was entered into a national database in 2004.
The Investigation Breakthrough
In 2009, Las Vegas Metro Police received a nearly $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to run DNA tests in national databases. This effort reignited interest in cold cases. In 2010, a plea from Barbara Ann Cox’s sister pushed the Cold Case Team to review her unsolved murder. By 2011, DNA links between Cox’s and Tina Mitchell’s murders were established, pinpointing Burkett as a suspect. His DNA sample from 2004 matched those from the crime scenes, leading to his arrest in Mississippi in July 2012. He was extradited to Nevada to face justice.
Legal Proceedings and Final Days
Arraigned on two counts of first-degree murder and later indicted for the murder of Althea Williams, Burkett pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty, but this was withdrawn when it was disclosed that Burkett was in the early stages of dementia. In 2018, Burkett admitted guilt to two counts of second-degree murder, receiving a sentence of 10 years to life.
Burkett’s life came to an end on January 19, 2021, when he succumbed to complications from COVID-19 while incarcerated at Northern Nevada Correctional Center.
Sources
For further details on Nathaniel Burkett, visit the original Wikipedia article.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Murder Committed
Nathaniel Burkett sexually assaults and strangles Barbara Ann Cox in Las Vegas.
Mother Murdered
Burkett douses his mother, Ruby, with gasoline and burns her to death in Mississippi.
Second Murder Committed
Burkett rapes and strangles Tina Gayle Mitchell in Las Vegas.
Third Murder Committed
Burkett murders Althea Williams and hides her body near the site of Mitchell's murder.
Fourth Murder Committed
Burkett strangles Valetter Jean Bousley behind a church in Las Vegas.
Final Arrest
Burkett is arrested in Mississippi after DNA links him to multiple murders.
Guilty Plea
Burkett pleads guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and is sentenced.
Burkett Dies
Nathaniel Burkett dies of complications from COVID-19 while in prison.
Nathaniel Burkett, an American serial killer, was active between 1978 and 2002, committing multiple murders in the Las Vegas Valley and killing his mother in Mississippi. His criminal activities included the sexual assault and strangulation of four women, with the first known victim being 22-year-old Barbara Ann Cox in April 1978. Burkett was apprehended for the final time in July 2012 after DNA testing linked him to the murders, leading to his conviction on three counts of murder in 2018. He died in prison on January 19, 2021, while serving a sentence of 10 years to life in Nevada. Significant evidence included DNA matches that connected Burkett to the crime scenes, which ultimately facilitated his conviction after decades of evasion.
Investigators and the public theorize that Nathaniel Burkett's violent tendencies may have been influenced by his traumatic childhood, including his battle with polio, which led to his nickname "Criptoe." There is speculation that his repeated run-ins with the law prior to his murders indicate a pattern of escalating violence, suggesting he may have been a ticking time bomb. Additionally, some believe that Burkett's crimes may have been motivated by a desire for control and power, particularly over vulnerable women.
The Dark Shadow of Nathaniel Burkett
Early Years of Nathaniel Burkett
Nathaniel Burkett’s life began in the small town of Picayune, Mississippi, in 1946. Though the specifics of his birth date remain a mystery, one fact was clear—Burkett's early years were challenging. Stricken by polio in his youth, he developed a limp that earned him the nickname "Criptoe." Little is known about his childhood, as Burkett seldom spoke of it, but his adult life unfolded across the states of Mississippi and Nevada, where he would become infamous.
A Trail of Violence
Burkett’s life was marred by a series of escalating crimes from 1976 to 1979, including battery, domestic violence, kidnapping, robbery, disorderly conduct, and rape. It was during this period, in April 1978, that the darkness truly took hold. In Las Vegas, Burkett brutally assaulted and strangled 22-year-old Barbara Ann Cox. Her naked body was found between a parking stall and a wall at 211 W. Wilson Ave, not far from where Burkett lived at the time. Discovered on April 22 by Burkett’s girlfriend, the crime scene was grisly, and Burkett, found nearby in a drunken stupor with a bottle of whiskey, proclaimed his innocence vehemently. Lack of evidence shielded him from further questioning or charges at that time.
In 1982, Burkett returned to Mississippi, where he committed an unthinkable act of violence against his own mother. On April 13, he set Ruby Burkett ablaze with gasoline, leading to her death. Arrested and initially indicted on a capital murder charge, the indictment was later reduced to manslaughter. Convicted in 1983, Burkett was given a 20-year prison sentence.
Return to Sin City
Released from prison in 1992, Burkett returned to Las Vegas, resuming his sinister activities. On February 20, 1994, he raped and strangled 27-year-old Tina Gayle Mitchell, attempting to obscure his crime by hiding her body beneath towels. A passerby later discovered the remains. Just a few months later, on May 14, 1994, he claimed another victim, 32-year-old Althea Williams, whose body he concealed under a clothesline near the previous crime scene.
Despite multiple arrests in 1997 and 1998 for failing to register as a felon and update his address, Burkett continued his lethal behavior. On August 19, 1999, 33-year-old Brigitte Mitchell Thomas vanished in Las Vegas, and Burkett emerged as a prime suspect. He struck again on September 4, 2002, luring 41-year-old Valetter Jean Bousley behind a church and strangling her to death. A witness came forward in March 2003, recounting how he saw Bousley follow Burkett, only for Burkett to return alone minutes later. This testimony, combined with additional evidence, led to Burkett’s arrest in October of that year. Convicted of voluntary manslaughter, he served six years in prison, during which his DNA was entered into a national database in 2004.
The Investigation Breakthrough
In 2009, Las Vegas Metro Police received a nearly $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to run DNA tests in national databases. This effort reignited interest in cold cases. In 2010, a plea from Barbara Ann Cox’s sister pushed the Cold Case Team to review her unsolved murder. By 2011, DNA links between Cox’s and Tina Mitchell’s murders were established, pinpointing Burkett as a suspect. His DNA sample from 2004 matched those from the crime scenes, leading to his arrest in Mississippi in July 2012. He was extradited to Nevada to face justice.
Legal Proceedings and Final Days
Arraigned on two counts of first-degree murder and later indicted for the murder of Althea Williams, Burkett pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty, but this was withdrawn when it was disclosed that Burkett was in the early stages of dementia. In 2018, Burkett admitted guilt to two counts of second-degree murder, receiving a sentence of 10 years to life.
Burkett’s life came to an end on January 19, 2021, when he succumbed to complications from COVID-19 while incarcerated at Northern Nevada Correctional Center.
Sources
For further details on Nathaniel Burkett, visit the original Wikipedia article.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Murder Committed
Nathaniel Burkett sexually assaults and strangles Barbara Ann Cox in Las Vegas.
Mother Murdered
Burkett douses his mother, Ruby, with gasoline and burns her to death in Mississippi.
Second Murder Committed
Burkett rapes and strangles Tina Gayle Mitchell in Las Vegas.
Third Murder Committed
Burkett murders Althea Williams and hides her body near the site of Mitchell's murder.
Fourth Murder Committed
Burkett strangles Valetter Jean Bousley behind a church in Las Vegas.
Final Arrest
Burkett is arrested in Mississippi after DNA links him to multiple murders.
Guilty Plea
Burkett pleads guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and is sentenced.
Burkett Dies
Nathaniel Burkett dies of complications from COVID-19 while in prison.