Joey Keenan ~ November 22, 2024
SEATTLE, WA – A tragic and deeply disturbing case of parricide unfolded on November 5 in southeast Seattle, where Corey Burke, 33, allegedly murdered her 67-year-old father, Timothy Burke, with an ice axe. A manager at Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ aerospace manufacturing company, Burke later told investigators that the recent election results, coupled with ongoing disputes with her father, pushed her to the breaking point.
Police were called to the $800,000 home after neighbors reported loud disturbances and shattered windows. Upon arrival, officers found the house in disarray, with shards of broken glass littering the yard. Inside, they encountered Burke, disheveled and covered in blood. According to officers, Burke admitted to clapping loudly because she was “happy.” She appeared detached from the severity of the situation and insisted the attack “needed to happen today.”
Officers entered the residence after being informed by neighbors that Timothy Burke, who had numerous health issues, also lived there. Inside, they found the elder Burke’s body on the lower level, face down and unconscious, with severe injuries to his back, head, and ears, as well as apparent bite marks. A bloodied ice axe, believed to be the murder weapon, was discovered upstairs near the living room.
During questioning, Corey Burke confessed to the attack, citing a combination of personal and political stress. She explained that an argument over lights being left on escalated into violence, further fueled by her reaction to Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election. “Well, now the president is going to be Donald Trump,” she said, adding that she felt overwhelmed and “reborn” after her birthday in late October.
Her statements highlighted a descent into mental instability, with Burke describing the murder as an act of necessity. She admitted to struggling to strangle her father and resorted to biting him before delivering additional blows with the ice axe. Following his death, Burke said she smashed the windows in an act of “liberation.” Investigators noted that her account reflected a disturbed mental state, further evidenced by her erratic behavior and contradictory statements at the scene.
Burke’s recent history had placed her in the public eye, in part due to her marriage to Samantha Lee Allen, a transgender writer and editor for the LGBTQ publication Them. Once a respected professional at Blue Origin, Burke’s unraveling shocked those who knew her. Her hatred for Trump, fixation on political outcomes, and struggles with personal boundaries appeared to culminate in this violent outburst.
Corey Burke has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held on a $2 million bond, her first court appearance was on Nov 21. As the investigation continues, her case raises questions about the intersection of mental health, political turmoil, and personal crises, leaving a lasting impact on her community and family.
