Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: April 24, 2007

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Double Murder

Shreveport Police are investigating the death of a quadriplegic man and his caretaker.

Jerry Burns, 35, of Shreveport -- who is disabled -- and Tony Stickell, 66, of Shreveport were both found inside Burns' apartment, which appeared to be intentionally set on fire.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 3:14 a.m. today about smoke coming from the apartment. When firefighters arrived, they forced their way into the apartment and found that the structure, as well as the victims, were on fire.

The fire was extinguished and the Shreveport Police Department was called to investigate. Police found signs of a struggle inside the apartment, and it appeared that some items were missing. Both Burns and Stickell were taken by the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office for autopsies to determine the cause of death.

A few hours after the bodies were found, Stickell's car was found abandoned on the exit ramp from Interstate 20 to Monkhouse Drive. The white 1996 Pontiac Grand Am did not appear to be damaged.

If anyone has information about this case, contact the Violent Crimes Detective's Office at 673-6955 or Crime Stoppers at 673-7373.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews