Suspect in Monterey Doctor’s murder agrees to transfer to Nevada

UPDATE: The suspect facing murder charges in the death of Monterey doctor, Thomas Kirk Burchard, has “waived extradition,” according to the San Joaquin County Courthouse.

Sources at the Stockton, California-based courthouse say 25-year-old Kelsey Turner is now awaiting to be transferred to Clark County in Nevada where the case will continue to be processed.

A hearing is scheduled for Monday morning to make the act official, however neither the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office or Jail would confirm if Turner will appear in court for that hearing.

Thomas Burchard was found dead in a car that was abandoned near Las Vegas on March 7th. An arrest report says that Turner was making payments on that car and had possibly gone into hiding following the discovery of Burchard’s body.

Burchard had been missing for several days prior, with an approximate time of death being placed between March 3rd and March 6th.

ORIGINAL STORY: The car which a Monterey doctor was found dead in at Lake Mead near Las Vegas belongs to the woman who is facing a murder charge in his death. That’s according to our sister station KLAS who have obtained her arrest report.

According to the arrest report for Kelsey Turner, 25, she bought the car in November and never reported it missing. Police also found evidence of a crime and clean-up in Turner’s home.

The body of 71-year-old Thomas Kirk Burchard was found in the trunk of the car March 7. He had been reported missing by his longtime girlfriend in Monterey when he didn’t return home on March 4. She told police that he had gone to visit Turner and she became concerned when she started receiving text messages that didn’t sound like Burchard. She believed Turner and her boyfriend may have killed him, the report said.

Police attempted to contact Turner at her home several times, but no one answered the door. The report said police obtained a search warrant and entered the home and found blood in the house, cleaning supplies, and a set of towels which matched one found in the trunk with Burchard’s body. Police said it appeared Turner was preparing to move out of the home even though her lease wasn’t up unti June.

The coroner determined Burchard died from blunt force trauma to his head, saying he had been struck multiple times with an unidentified object.

Police believe Burchard was killed sometime between March 3 to March 6, the report said.

Turner is facing a charge of murder with a deadly weapon.