An ex-Cal State Fullerton basketball player, who was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and setting her body on fire in the Las Vegas desert in 2010, recently passed away in prison.
Justin Burns, aged 39, was pronounced dead on June 8 at High Desert State Prison, according to a statement from the Nevada Department of Corrections.
“The cause of death will be determined by the autopsy, but foul play is not suspected,” stated Teri Vance, a public information officer for the department of corrections.
Specific details about the discovery of Burns’ body and the person who found him have not been released by prison authorities.
Burns had been serving a sentence of 10 to 25 years for the second-degree murder of Michele Carson, a 25-year-old woman from West Covina, as reported by the Daily Breeze.
John Carson, Michele Carson’s father, learned about Burns’ death through an automated notification system for crime victims and contacted his advocate in Nevada, who informed him that Burns was found deceased in his cell.
“I feel relieved. He can never harm another person,” John Carson expressed.
He also expressed relief that he no longer has to attend parole hearings or worry about Burns being released.
Three years ago, John Carson attended a parole hearing and spoke to the parole board. Although Burns did not attend the hearing, his parole was denied, according to John Carson’s statement.
Michele Carson, the youngest of three children, was described by her father as a confident, independent individual who loved life.
She met Burns while they were both attending Cal State Fullerton, where Burns played center for the basketball team from 2004 to 2007. The two were in an on-and-off relationship for approximately five years, according to her father.
“At first, he seemed like a decent guy. Something changed,” John Carson recalled.
During the relationship, Michele Carson’s parents were unaware of Burns’ history of violence and the fact that he had slapped her.
Michele Carson graduated with a degree in criminal justice in 2008. She and Burns broke up a few months before her tragic death in 2010, as confirmed by relatives.
While in Las Vegas, Michele Carson met with Burns, as her parents later discovered. Burns strangled her and used her car to transport her body to the desert, according to John Carson. Burns also purchased gasoline.
“He set her on fire and buried her under rocks,” John Carson revealed.
On November 7, 2010, men who were target shooting stumbled upon Michele Carson’s remains.
According to John Carson, her car was found earlier or on the same day in a Las Vegas neighborhood with the engine running and a door open. John Carson believes that Burns left the car in that state in an attempt to have it stolen.
“Absolutely. You don’t leave a car running with the door open,” he stated.
After the crime, Burns fled to Mississippi and sought refuge with relatives. However, detectives were able to track him down in March 2011 and apprehend him.
While in jail, Burns wrote a letter to Michele Carson’s parents, Esther Deleon and John Carson.
“We received a letter full of excuses, claiming he was a troubled person. He never took responsibility,” John Carson recounted.
A meeting was arranged between Burns and the Carsons, during which John Carson urged Burns to take accountability and stop delaying the trial.
Ultimately, there was no trial. Burns pleaded guilty on July 31, 2017, to second-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon and was sentenced on September 26, 2017, as stated in court records.
John Carson’s mission is to raise awareness about domestic violence.
“We need to educate people from a young age. You should never strike a woman,” he emphasized. He has shared his story at memorials organized by a group for crime victims.
“Occasionally, I tell my story and spread awareness,” he added.
John Carson never imagined that his daughter would meet such a tragic fate.
“Nothing can shatter your life like that,” he expressed. “It’s a lifelong journey to recover.”
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