Former model sentenced for fatally beating 71-year-old doctor, leaving body in abandoned car

LAS VEGAS (TCD) -- A woman was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison in connection with the 2019 death of a psychiatrist whose body was found in an abandoned car.

KLAS-TV reports a judge in Clark County handed Kelsey Turner the sentence Tuesday, Jan. 10, after she previously entered an Alford plea for second-degree murder for the death of 71-year-old Dr. Thomas Burchard.

Turner’s boyfriend, Jon Kennison, was sentenced to 18 to 45 years in prison in July, according to KLAS. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a murder and murder with the use of a deadly weapon.

According to KVVU-TV, on March 7, 2019, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received a call about a suspicious car near Lake Mead. Officers went by the vehicle and discovered Burchard’s body in the trunk of Turner’s car.

Burchard’s girlfriend, Judy Warp, reported him missing earlier that month. Burchard lived in California but reportedly flew to Las Vegas to see Turner because he reportedly paid for her rent in Salinas, California, prior to her moving to Las Vegas.

KLAS reports police found blood and cleaning supplies inside Turner’s home, which was being packed up for a move.

A coroner determined Burchard died from blunt force trauma to his head and likely died sometime between March 3 and March 6.

MORE:

• Former Las Vegas model sentenced to minimum of 10 years in death of California doctor - KLAS
• Man sentenced in murder of California doctor whose body was discovered at Lake Mead, 6/26/2022 - KLAS
• Woman accused of killing California psychiatrist reaches plea deal, 11/10/2022 - KVVU
• Report: California doctor’s body was found in suspect’s car, 4/2/2019 - KLAS