Published: July 07, 2009 12:01 pm         

White arrested for 2008 murder of Julie Burchett

Monticello — Nearly a year after a Wayne County woman was murdered, an arrest has

been made in the case. Kentucky State Police arrested Hope White, 26, on

Monday, June 29, and charged her with murder.

The charges stem from the July 19, 2008 murder of Julie Hicks Burchett,

24, who was found dead in her vehicle, which was parked at the pallet mill

on Beech Valley Road. Kentucky State Police Detective Doug Boyd confirmed

that Burchett had been stabbed multiple times.

She was found at 12:02 a.m., after an officer noticed the car was parked

at the empty building and stopped to investigate.

She was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. Police did not

release information as to how long Burchett had been in the vehicle before

her body was discovered, only noting that she had been seen by family and

friends earlier in the day.

Her father, William Hicks, said he had seen his daughter about 2 p.m. on

Friday, July 18, 2008, when she left the driveway of her home.

Burchett and her husband, Ricky, lived on the same property with her

parents.

Hicks has been persistent throughout the past 11 1/2 months, making sure

that the case was not forgotten. The family posted flyers several different

times around the area seeking information in Burchett's death, and Hicks

posted information on a local message board.

He said it was what he had to do to keep the last promise he made to his

daughter.

"At the funeral home, I made her a promise that I would not quit until

someone was held responsible for this," said Hicks.

He said that it was a relief now to know that someone had been charged

in the death of his daughter. Hicks described White as an acquaintance of

his daughter. He would not speculate on what he believed is the motive for

his daughter's death.

Hicks and Detective Boyd have kept in close contact throughout the

nearly year-long investigation. Boyd said he talked to Hicks almost daily.

Like Burchett's father, Boyd said he has never given up on this

investigation.

He has followed up numerous leads and interviewed a lot of people. Boyd

also indicated there is a possibility that there will be more arrests in the

case.

He said he would confer with Commonwealth's Attorney Matthew Leveridge

before other charges will be pursued.

White appeared in Wayne County District Court on Thursday, July 2 for

arraignment.

Jim Cox with the Public Defender's Office was assigned as her attorney

and he entered a not guilty plea on her behalf.

Cox requested that White's bond be lowered to $25,000 cash or $50,000

property. District Judge Mike Lawson overruled the motion and bond will

remain at $250,000 cash.

A preliminary hearing for White has been set for Monday, July 13 at 11

a.m.

     

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