Body of Monterey doctor found in trunk of a vehicle
UPDATE 3/19/19: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police are releasing more information about the death of a Monterey doctor.
According to LVMPD, officers found the body of Thomas Burchard in the trunk of a vehicle on March 7th.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office still hasn’t released the official cause of death.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police at (702) 828-3521 or email at homicide@lvmpd.com
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UPDATE: Monday, March 8th, 6:09 p.m. Patients of Monterey psychiatrist, Dr. Thomas Burchard are still processing the news. Thursday, Las Vegas Police announced their beloved doctor, and friend, was a victim of a homicide.
“The last time I saw him I told him I wasn’t sure what I would do when he retired, because he was 71. He told me, ‘You have nothing to worry about. I’ll be here for a very long time,'” said long-time patient, Elizabeth Miranda.
Miranda learned about Burchard’s death this weekend. Police said the doctor’s body was found in a parked car outside Las Vegas, just off the highway, near Lake Mead. A passing motorist said a rock was thrown threw the car window. The coroner said Burchard was found with a severe head injury.
His patients said he was one-of-a-kind. “Doctors like Dr. Burchard are far and few between. He was literally living his dream job. He loved his job and he loved to educate his patients,” said Angela Greene, mother of a patient of Dr. Burchard.
Some even said he saved their lives. They explained he took the time to listen when they needed it most. “With depression you get into dark stages and there are times were you can’t get out of it. He did have a
huge impact on that,” said Miranda.
Hundreds of Burchard’s patients posted on Facebook. They shared memories about the time he dedicated to every patient and his love for magic. “Every time before you left the office he had to do his card magic trick. That was standard. No matter what, he had to do it. He would never share how he did it, but he was great at it every single time,” said Miranda.
Burchard worked for the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. Patients said the office has been helpful in placing them with new physicians, but no one will ever truly replace him.
“You don’t realize it until after the fact. I wish I could tell him how much he impacted my life,” said Miranda.
This case is still under investigation.
