John Stevens Burgess

SAN DIEGO’S “CRAIGSLIST KILLER” OF SDSU STUDENT STIRS OUTRAGE OVER EARLY RELEASE REQUEST

 

Family wants case reopened; believes daughter may have been sold to human traffickers

 
Case raises concerns over safety of advertising on Craigslist
 By Miriam Raftery
 
April 19, 2011 (San Diego) – John Steven Burgess confessed to drugging and killing San Diego State University freshman Donna Jou after meeting her on Craigslist, where she advertised tutoring services. Burgess, 38,  a convicted sex offender, claimed he accidentally overdosed Jou and panicked, then dumped  her body in the ocean. She was never found. 
 
Burgess was sentenced to just five years in prison, convicted of involuntary manslaughter. He sought early release for good behavior after serving just two years. After protests by the family,  California Deparment of Corrections last week announced  it would release Burgess from state custody, though he will serve another year in Los Angeles County Jail. The news sparked outrage due to his dark history of sexual predation and violence--even before he met Jou. 

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