Remembering Jason Burgeson
and Amy Shute

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What Happened

On June 9, 2000, my close friend, Jason Burgeson, 20 (of Lakeville, MA), and his friend, Amy Shute, 21 (of Coventry, RI), were brutally murdered in Rhode Island. The two went dancing at a night club in Providence with some friends (including me) that night. When the club closed, Jason, Amy, and two other friends got into Jason's car. After dropping the other two off at a nearby bar around 2am, Jason and Amy were standing near Jason's Ford Explorer when they were approached by five men. They were robbed and forced at gunpoint into Jason's car. The men brought them to an unfinished golf course where, after watching the two beg for their lives, one of the men shot each in the head execution style. In the blink of an eye he took away two bright, fun spirits. Jason and Amy did nothing to deserve this. Five men were out looking for some random trouble and found it.

Because of brutal crimes such as this, there is a federal statute that states that carjackings which lead to kidnapping and murder are crimes punishable under federal law. Because Rhode Island does not have the death penalty, Jason and Amy's families and friends fought for the case to become federal so their killers could possibly face death.

The Letter Campaign

Thank you to everyone who participated in the letter campaign. You helped us get one step closer to justice for Jason and Amy. For those of you unfamiliar with the letter campaign, we asked everyone to send letters to Attorney Generals Janet Reno and Margaret Curren to ask that this case be tried under federal law. Sample letters, both written by Jason's sister, could be used or people could write their own personal letters.

The Trials

The case was brought to federal court, and four of the five men, including the shooter, plead guilty in exchange for their lives. The government decided not to pursue the death penalty for the fifth man, who subsequently had his federal charges dropped (by the judge, not the jury). His trial was finally heard by the state in 2004, and he was found guilty on all charges. Now that the trials are over, Jason and Amy's families and friends can finally begin the healing process...

The Sentences

Gregory Floyd, the admitted shooter, plead guilty (without a plea bargain) and, on 9-10-02, was sentenced to life in federal prison without the possibility of parole.

Harry Burdick signed a plea bargain and, on 10-8-02, was sentenced to life in federal prison without the possibility of parole.

Sammie Sanchez plead guilty (without a plea bargain) and, on 11-7-2002, was sentenced to life in federal prison without the possibility of parole.

Raymond Anderson also signed a plea bargain and, on 11-13-02, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. He can cut 4.5 years off of his sentence depending on good behavior.

Kenneth Day went to trial in February 2003 and was aquitted of Federal Charges. The state then pursued his case in June of 2004, and he was found guilty and sentenced to four consecutive life sentences for his role in Jason and Amy's murders.

News | Their Story | Jason | Amy | Poems & Essays | GuestGear | Contact Me