Richmond Mayor Ron Oler and Richmond Police Chief Kyle: ‘We don’t really have justice’: Officials speak on Phillip Lee’s death
The man accused of murdering a Richmond, Indiana K-9 officer has died.
Richmond Mayor Ron Oler and Richmond Police Chief Kyle Weatherly provided remarks to the public on the death of Phillip M. Lee, the man accused of killing Richmond K-9 Officer Seara Burton in 2022.
Burton was shot in the line of duty on Aug. 10, 2022. She was taken to Miami Valley Hospital for treatment, where she later died on Sept. 18, 2022 from her injuries.
The Indiana State Police reported Lee was found in his cell at Pendleton Correctional Facility Thursday around 12:46 a.m. Around the same time, the Richmond Police Department was alerted of the information, according to Adam Blanton, assistant police chief for the Richmond Police Department.
ISP said that while foul play is not suspected, an autopsy and toxicology results are pending. Kyle Weatherly, chief of police for the Richmond Police Department, said he was unsure when Lee’s autopsy would be performed.
Weatherly told the public that the department’s current concern is with the members of the department. He also explained that the entire department has supported each other since the event occurred.
“Well, my concern is the men and women of the Richmond Police Department, the family officers here and the community of Richmond,” said Weatherly. “We have been there for each other. That is something we do as a law enforcement family and the community.”
Richmond Mayor Ron Oler said the shooting of the fallen officer was a tragedy.
“Two years ago, a very bad thing happened in our city and we don’t really have justice, but
we have something like closure,” said Oler. “So maybe not the outcome the citizens wanted, but at least there is an outcome.”
Chief Weatherly said he spoke with Burton’s family, but didn’t go into details, citing it being a “private conversation.”
Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter did not attend the conference, but released the following statement:
In this moment, my heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Officer Seara Burton and her family. With the news of her murderer being found dead in his prison cell today, I hope this brings some measure of peace and closure to them as they continue to navigate their loss.”
