SALINE CO., Ill. - We have just a little to update you on regarding the alleged murder of Carla Burns, Dr. Brian Burns' estranged wife.
We've been told that the Saline County Sheriff's Office, headed up by Chief Deputy Ken Clore, is in charge of the investigation. In a way, that's awesome; Clore is former ISP back when ISP was a remarkable law enforcement agency. That's also bad, in a way, because he is more tight-lipped than ISP is. So we may not find anything out except what Sheriff Keith Brown LETS out.
What we've learned from people on the ground, however, is disturbing, regarding the disappearance of Carla Burns, 49, of Marion, as it pertains to a location in the Mitchellsville area of Saline County south of Harrisburg.
There, apparently, is either property that Burns owns/resides in, or is a property that's close by his. There are other people who use the land adjacent to that property for hunting and other activities. Some have been questioned as to a cistern or well on the property where it has been found covered by a blue tarp, with bricks to hold the tarp in place. We don't know what was found there; and we don't know what those who were questioned said when asked about it; that's part of the ongoing investigation.
We hear that there are a couple of other locations that are place of interest as they pertain to a "crime scene," but what was found, we're not able to say at this point; that's pure speculation on the part of some who were in the vicinity last night and today.
We've learned that there has been an acrimonious divorce between the Burnses. We will be gathering the details of that as soon as possible. She had moved to Marion. He was still living in Saline County.
He was at one point having been said to have been let go from Harrisburg Medical Center, but Dr. Burns wasn't "let go"...he was moved to a new job at Marshall Browning Clinic in DuQuoin but still listed on HMC website, likely because he is part of the hospitalist group that works at HMC. Those are specialists who treat only those who are hospitalized at HMC and not treating patients at any of the area clinics.
Burns has been charged formally with at least one count of First Degree Murder. We have requested a mug shot, but have been told that one won't be available until morning. When we obtain it, we'll post it along with any new information we gather. Be watching.