Murder Charges To Be Filed Against Suspects In Norman Man's Death

The Cleveland County District Attorney's office has decided it will file murder charges against both individuals arrested over the weekend for a Norman man's death, according to Norman police.

Tuesday, February 19th 2013, 5:59 pm

By: News 9


The Cleveland County District Attorney's office has decided it will file murder charges against both individuals arrested over the weekend for a Norman man's death, according to Norman police.

The body of 51-year-old Patrick Burton was found in his burning home on February 13, after a tree trimming crew spotted smoke coming out of the house he shared with his mother at 619 Villa Drive. The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office determined Burton died of a single gunshot wound to the shoulder.

Two days later, police found Burton's truck, and several items from his home, at a house in the 4300 block of S.E. 55th street.

"There's just a lot of activity going on, a lot of fighting and screaming," said Vicky Phillips, who lives next door to the house where the truck was found. "I just try to stay in the house and out of the way."

Norman police arrested Christopher Cody King and Mary Courtney York.

2/16/2013 Related Story: Police: Two Arrested In Norman Man's Shooting Death

According the probable cause affidavit, King used Burton's credit cards at the Riverwind casino, and surveillance video placed both King and York and two other friends at the casino with Burton's truck. Turns out Mary York was an escort and advertised her escort services online, and the last person Burton communicated with on his cell phone was her.

It states the suspects came to the house Patrick Burton shared with his mother last Tuesday night to rob him, but he fought back. That's when he was shot and killed, and then set on fire after the suspects ransacked the house and took his truck.

The Affidavit states York admitted to investigators that she knew Patrick Burton, and that he sometimes gave her money, and that on the night of the murder, she followed him to the bank to get money, and was present at the time of his death.

"They have probable cause to believe that she was in on the planning of the robbery and because he died in commission of a felony, then that makes it first degree murder," said Sgt.Jennifer Newell with the Norman Police Department.

Patrick Burton's sister spoke to News 9 on the phone Tuesday afternoon. She says though they are grieving, they feel lucky their elderly mother was out of state at the time and not at home. Otherwise they may have been planning two funerals, instead of just one.

A burial fund has been established for Patrick Burton. Contributions can be made to any Arvest bank branch around the metro.

Formal murder charges against Christopher King and Mary York are yet to be filed.

Both are being held in the Cleveland county jail.

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