Press Release: Colfax man pleads guilty to murder of his girlfriend and unborn child
May 14, 2013
R. Scott Owens
District Attorney
PLACER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
10810 Justice Center Drive, Suite 240
Roseville, California 95678
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Date: May 14, 2013
Contact:
Jeff Wilson
Assistant District Attorney
916-543-8000
COLFAX MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER OF HIS GIRLFRIEND AND UNBORN CHILD.
Lee Martin Konnerth age 37 of Colfax, pled guilty to two counts of Second Degree Murder and several related charges in connection with the murder of Sarah Lynn Burr and their unborn child. The pleas were entered before the Honorable Colleen Nichols in Department 13 of the Placer County Superior Court. Pursuant to a plea agreement the defendant will be sentenced to 19 years, 8 months to life.
The murder charges resulted from the 2011murder of Sara Lynn Burr and her unborn child. Burr and the defendant had been in a romantic relationship and were expecting what would have been Burr’s third daughter. Burr remained in this relationship with the defendant, notwithstanding evidence that the two were involved in frequent fights with each other. According to numerous witnesses, the two argued regularly. Witnesses described their relationship as volatile.
In May, 2011, Sarah and her two daughters (age 11 and age 7) were temporarily living with the defendant’s father in a small subdivision near Colfax, in Placer County. On the evening of May 15th, Burr arrived at the defendant’s home after work. After dinner, an argument erupted between Burr and the defendant. In the midst of the argument, the defendant went to a closet near the front door and retrieved a hunting rifle. Sarah’s two daughters went downstairs while the defendant and Sarah continued to argue.
The investigation into the murder revealed that in the course of the argument, Sarah retrieved a large kitchen knife and attempted to leave out of the front door of the residence. As she was exiting the front door, she was shot in the back. Both Burr and her fetus died at the scene.
The formal sentencing of Konnerth will take place July 17th, 2013 at 1 p.m. in Department 4 of the Placer County Superior Court House.