WHITE CO.—Thomas Davidson has been arrested and charged with a preliminary count of First Degree Murder.
Thomas Davidson
Illinois and Indiana authorities have confirmed this morning (10 a.m.) to Disclosure that the body found in a rural location west of the village of Crossville in White County last night (Saturday, August 17, 2013, at about 7 p.m.) was that of Sandra Burkhardt, who went missing from her home in Gibson County at some point in time between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. the night before, Friday, August 16.
Authorities in Gibson County told us last night that Davidson, 25, who has a record of violence here in White County, Illinois, was the suspect in Mrs. Burkhardt’s disappearance. While they aren’t stating what they believe Davidson allegedly wanted from the 58-year-old woman, they’ve stated that he was a rural neighbor of hers, and likely went to her residence—where she was watching her 1-year-old grandchild until 11, when her daughter was to come pick up the baby—possibly abducted her at gun point, and took off with her in her own car.
The baby was left sleeping; Mrs. Burkhardt’s daughter arrived to find the baby safe and sound, but her mother gone. The likelihood that Burkhardt made no reference to her sleeping grandchild toward Davidson, who probably didn’t know the baby was present, is a good one…and she likely saved that child’s life in the process.
Gibson County Sheriff George Ballard told our staff last night that Burkhardt’s vehicle was found crashed into a tree in Pike County, with two bullet holes in the windshield that appeared to have been fired from inside the vehicle. The vehicle matched the description of one wanted in connection with a Mt. Vernon, Indiana, “drive-by” shooting that had occurred yesterday morning there, wherein a citizen was slightly injured, this reportedly by broken glass and was not struck by any bullet. The person stated that a vehicle fitting the description of the one missing from Burkhardt’s residence had driven by, and a gun was fired out of it by a person fitting Davidson’s description; then the vehicle sped off. So Posey County authorities had issued a warrant for Davidson’s arrest.
Upon discovery of Burkhardt’s vehicle at the crash site at about 4 p.m., Pike County notified Gibson, Posey, and Warrick as well, where Davidson was wanted in connection with a string of burglaries in that county.
Pike County deputies then went on the hunt for Davidson. Receiving reports of burglaries across the county but in the vicinity of the site, Pike County ultimately found Davidson in a white SUV that had been reported stolen, sitting at a location about four miles from the county’s high school. They effected a felony arrest, brought Davidson in, and transported him to Gibson, this before 7 p.m. when a helicopter, in the air via a joint effort between Indiana and Illinois state police jurisdictions, was overflying White County. Gibson, still reporting Burkhardt as missing and therefore not able to hold Davidson on anything specific yet, sent him on to Posey, as that active warrant superseded anything else in the multi-county jurisdictions.
Disclosure last spoke to Indiana authorities last night at about 9 p.m., when Gibson County Sheriff George Ballard said he was awaiting word from state police authorities as to the identity of the body found west of Crossville. This morning, calls to Illinois authorities confirmed the identity of the body to be that of Mrs. Burkhardt’s. Davidson, Illinois authorities said, was brought over from Posey County (which is directly across the river from White at New Haven via toll bridge) late last night and booked into the county jail on a preliminary charge of First Degree Murder in connection with Mrs. Burkhardt’s death.
Courtney Harper
While authorities haven’t issued any information as regards Davidson’s transit between Posey County, Indiana and White County, Illinois, the fact is that the toll bridge over the Wabash has cameras, so the likelihood of the video or at least photographic stills capture of Davidson driving Burkhardt’s vehicle across the bridge being recorded is a very good one.
Davidson has ties to White County, as his wife, Courtney Harper, is currently serving weekends in jail in the very facility where he’s being held. Whether she and/or the kids they have together have anything at all to do with the alleged rampage this guy went on yesterday is unknown, but hopefully will develop over time if such a thing is the case.
White County authorities have stated that Davidson will be in court tomorrow, Monday, August 19, on a first appearance/advisement of charges. We will be present to bring information to you as it develops from there.