the other night i was thanking God that i still had all of my friends. none of them were dead.
now i have to thank God that it was only one who died. as awful as that may sound.
i'm going to post the report on her death here. some may not want to read it. i understand. but i have to put it here for my own reasons. i hope you'll understand.
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POSTED: 6:57 am EDT September 15, 2005
UPDATED: 5:08 pm EDT September 15, 2005
WARWICK, R.I. -- A Warwick man has been charged with killing his former live-in girlfriend after New Hampshire police found him covered in blood at a highway rest area.
Gerardo Martinez was charged Thursday with murder in the death of Lindsay Burke, 23, of North Kingstown.
Warwick police said they found Burke in the bathtub of Martinez's home Wednesday night. They were alerted by New Hampshire state police, who found Martinez at a rest stop along Interstate 93 in Canterbury wearing bloodstained clothing.
State police said they received a report that someone had driven a car into a tree at the rest area, which is just north of Concord, about 150 miles from Warwick.
New Hampshire State Police Sgt. Mark Armaganian said in an affidavit that a trooper found Martinez sitting in the car, mumbling and unresponsive with cuts on his forearms.
A notebook on the seat next to him contained what appeared to be a suicide note and an apology "for what I did to Lindsay," Armaganian said in court documents.
An affidavit submitted by Rhode Island investigators quoted the notebook as including this statement, "I didn't want to kill her but I did."
State police sent Martinez to Concord Hospital and contacted Warwick police.
Warwick police had already heard from Burke's parents, who were worried because their daughter had not shown up for work Wednesday, court documents say. They identified Martinez as Burke's ex-boyfriend and went to his home but got no answer.
They found blood in the first-floor bathroom of Martinez's Warwick Avenue home and Burke's body covered in blankets, with a stuffed animal placed on top, court documents say.
In uncovering the body, detectives reportedly found a deep cut to her throat. Investigators also reported finding a large knife at the scene.
Warwick police Capt. Michael Babula said police had no documented history of domestic violence between the couple, but he said Burke recently moved out because of domestic problems.
"The suspect does have a history of domestic issues with a previous girlfriend and a previous wife, and restraining orders are in effect involving the previous girlfriend and the previous wife -- but not with the victim," Babula said.
Martinez, 28, was arraigned in Concord District Court on Thursday, where he was represented by the public defender's office.
Martinez is charged with being a fugitive from justice in New Hampshire. He's charged with first-degree murder in Rhode Island.
Lawyers Rebecca Jacobstein and Abigail Albee told the judge they had not had an opportunity to review the complaint with Martinez or to consider bail. Judge James E. Michalik set a new court date for Oct. 17.
State Police Lt. Russell Conte said after the hearing that New Hampshire police had impounded the car, which was registered to Burke.
Conte said state police will continue to work with Rhode Island officials.
"What we're here to do is support the investigators in Warwick, Rhode Island," he said. "They are the lead investigators in this."
Copyright 2005 by turnto10.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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- Weller