GUILTY PA - Ashley Burg, 17, found dead in Philadelphia, 1 Aug 2005

Startling new information was revealed Tuesday about the death of a local teen.

The body of 17-year-old Ashley Burg was found Aug. 1 dumped in the bushes on the side of a road in the Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood of Crestmont Farms. She was only wearing panties.

Investigators said Burg worked as a stripper and escort at the Tattle Tails strip club in South Philadelphia.
http://www.nbc10.com/news/4830334/detail.html

I saw that on my local news tonight, how sad!

The homeowner apparently wanted a very young looking girl and asked that she pretend to be 12 years old.....charming:furious:

A Montgomery County, Pa., man's claim that he sought hospital care for Ashley Burg is supported by the site where the Willingboro teenager's body was found, the man's lawyer said Thursday.

Burg's underwear-clad body was found Aug. 1 in a wooded area of Northeast Philadelphia that authorities have described as a haunt for young drug users. But the site also is less than a mile from a hospital emergency room.
http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050812/NEWS01/508120353/1006

An investigation into the death of a Willingboro teenager whose body was found dumped in a wooded area in Philadelphia won't be concluded for several weeks, a law enforcement official said Wednesday.

Any charge arising from the disposal of Ashley Burg's body likely is to be a misdemeanor under Pennsylvania law, Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor said Wednesday.

Investigators also are assessing evidence to support other potential charges, including conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and drug and prostitution offenses, Castor said.

"Technically, it's a suspicious death investigation at this point," Castor said. "Our focus is on when she died, who was with her and how they treated her after she died."

Downey, a consultant whose clients include the U.S. military and federal spy agencies, told authorities he saw powder on Burg's face and under her nose.

When her condition worsened, he called the escort service for help in the early morning hours of Aug. 1. Two people -- a dancer and the dancer's boyfriend -- arrived to pick up Burg around 5 a.m.

Downey, who has not been charged, contends Burg was alive -- although very sick -- when she was taken from the home around 5 a.m. Aug. 1, according to court papers. He said he gave the couple $2,000 to get Burg medical help.

The couple -- identified in the affidavit as Christine Shute and Mike Tees -- contend Burg already was dead when they got there, and that Downey paid them to get rid of the body, authorities said.

Shute said Downey mentioned that a doctor had come to his home and determined that Burg "had an aneurysm and her heart stopped," court papers say.

Shute and Tees said in the affidavit that they tried to find Phoenixville Hospital but could not. They then decided to find a hospital in Philadelphia.

The couple later admitted dumping Burg's body in a wooded area in the Crestmont Farms section of Northeast Philadelphia, about a quarter-mile from Frankford Hospitals, Torresdale campus.
http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050811/NEWS01/508110331/1006

Ashley Burg left her tough city neighborhood in hopes of building a more stable life with a relative in suburban New Jersey, and earning a high school diploma.

But the 17-year-old could not resist the lure of drugs and perhaps easy money, investigators believe, and her nearly nude body was found dumped near a freeway after she spent a day with a businessman who had hired her through an escort service. Authorities suspect she overdosed.

Philadelphia Homicide Lt. Phil Riehl said police believe it was her first time working for the escort service.

"How she came to do it on this particular evening, we don't know. We don't know if it was for money or for drugs or what," Riehl said.

Prosecutors are awaiting toxicology reports and said it could be weeks before they decide whether to file any charges. Authorities do not know if she died at the escort client's home or after the service sent people to retrieve her. An autopsy showed no sign of trauma.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/11/teen.escort.death.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Ex-Boyfriend Talks About Burg's Disappearance
http://www.nbc10.com/news/4855619/detail.html?rss=phi&psp=news

Kim Victorine, a stripper whom David F. Downey contacted to provide an escort on July 30, initially sought out Christine Shute, another dancer who had serviced the 52-year-old divorcee on two prior occasions, according to Shute's attorney, John K. Connor.

"When Kim came to her house, Christine was still asleep because she had been partying at a wedding reception the night before," said Connor, a Jenkintown lawyer. "That's the only reason they brought Ashley."

Burg, who had been using cocaine, fell ill shortly after Victorine and another man dropped her off at Downey's spacious home early on July 31, according to a police affidavit.

Some 24 hours later, Shute and her boyfriend, Mike Tees, came to Downey's house to retrieve Burg. After accepting $2,600 from Downey, they dumped her body, clad only in underwear, in a wooded area of Northeast Philadelphia, where she was found by a woman walking her dog, according to a police affidavit.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/12400212.htm

"Judge Hodgson asked the defense attorney how much bail the defendant could make. The reply was, 'between $50,000 and $100,000.' Judge Hodgson then set the bail at $250,000," said Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor.

When Castor learned Downey's attorney was working on trying to raise the bail, Castor started working on another motion to get the bail revoked.

Shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday, Castor didn't hold back when he filed a motion to revoke Downey's bail. Castor called Downey a flight risk and a danger to the community. He called Downey a morally bankrupt, selfish and depraved man.

According to documents Castor filed, Downey allegedly threatened and shoved a group of juveniles into the pavement and includes pictures of a Navy SEAL tattoo on Downey's leg.

"We think that Downey is a danger to the community. We think that he is a flight risk. We think there is a substantial likelihood that he is going to be convicted and go to jail, so he might as well start today," Castor said.

"Downey has plenty of money he spends on escorts and drugs and has contacts throughout the world. He tells everybody who asks that he is either in the CIA or a retired Navy SEAL or somehow involved in the defense intelligence community. Who's to say that's not true? And, if so, then he would have all of the intelligence contacts he could exercise to disappear. Presumably, if he's a Navy SEAL, as he tells everyone, then he would have all the combat training that goes along with that and our witness would therefore be in danger. We plan to point out all of those things to the judge," Castor said.

The motion to revoke bail also cited a lack of remorse on Downey's part when he allegedly visited another strip club.
http://www.nbc10.com/news/5694277/detail.html
I like this DA! He took the lies right out of the defendent's mouth and is using them against him !

mysteriew[b said:

]"Judge Hodgson asked the defense attorney how much bail the defendant could make. The reply was, 'between $50,000 and $100,000.' Judge Hodgson then set the bail at $250,000," said Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor.[/b]

When Castor learned Downey's attorney was working on trying to raise the bail, Castor started working on another motion to get the bail revoked.

Shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday, Castor didn't hold back when he filed a motion to revoke Downey's bail. Castor called Downey a flight risk and a danger to the community. He called Downey a morally bankrupt, selfish and depraved man.

According to documents Castor filed, Downey allegedly threatened and shoved a group of juveniles into the pavement and includes pictures of a Navy SEAL tattoo on Downey's leg.

"We think that Downey is a danger to the community. We think that he is a flight risk. We think there is a substantial likelihood that he is going to be convicted and go to jail, so he might as well start today," Castor said.

"Downey has plenty of money he spends on escorts and drugs and has contacts throughout the world. He tells everybody who asks that he is either in the CIA or a retired Navy SEAL or somehow involved in the defense intelligence community. Who's to say that's not true? And, if so, then he would have all of the intelligence contacts he could exercise to disappear. Presumably, if he's a Navy SEAL, as he tells everyone, then he would have all the combat training that goes along with that and our witness would therefore be in danger. We plan to point out all of those things to the judge," Castor said.

The motion to revoke bail also cited a lack of remorse on Downey's part when he allegedly visited another strip club.
http://www.nbc10.com/news/5694277/detail.html
I like this DA! He took the lies right out of the defendent's mouth and is using them against him !

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I like the judge...Judge Hodgson is ok in my book!!!

Ashley Burg. Ashley I think of you alot and have you in my prayers all of the time. I remind people you have a name. Ashley Burg. They sensationalized your murder and gave you titles. Now people forget. You're the girl murdered by some old dude. You have a name. You're a daughter, a niece, someone's friend. That is your title, sweetie.

RIP pretty girl. I am so sorry some creepy hurt you and took a life that could have shone and been promising.

Filly, what was the outcome of this? The thread kinda stopped in the early stages of the investigation. Please tell me he"s not still awaiting trial 5 yrs later. TIA

TobyWong* said:

Filly, what was the outcome of this? The thread kinda stopped in the early stages of the investigation. Please tell me he"s not still awaiting trial 5 yrs later. TIA

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I have also wondered if it's come out that he was lying in regards to his 'career' as a SEAL & his spy nonsense etc as I never,ever bought that.

This case had some really sensational elements so it's odd,to me,that it never got more coverage....

He is currently incarcerated at Waymart. It doesn't give sentence length or expected parole. Let me go pull his court record and get that information.

Thanks Belinda. I was checking also but got caught up reading about the case. I think the judge had the option of sentencing him to 8-1/2 to 17 years. I hope he got the max.

David F. Downey

Jury Trial: 06/14/2006
Sentence Date: 09/27/2006

Confinement Sentences

Offense: Drug Delivery Resulting in Death
Sentence: 7 1/2 years - 15 years

Offense: 3 counts Manu/Del/Poss with Intent to Manu or Deliver
Sentence: 1-2 years each count (1 consecutive & 2 concurrent)

Probation Sentences

Offense: Criminal Use of Comm. Facility
Sentence: 4 years Probation

The following charges all carried a 1 year Probation sentence but are all concurrent to above:

Reckless Endangerment
Unsworn False Auth. Written Statement
Tamper with/Fabricate Physical Evidence
Criminal Conspiracy Engaging-Tamper with/Fabricate Physical Evidence
Obstruct Admin. Law/Other Govt. Function
Criminal Conspiracy Engaging-Obstruct Admin. Law/Other Govt. Function
Abuse of Corpse
Criminal Conspiracy Engaging-Abuse of Corpse
3 counts Patronizing Prostitute

08/31/2007 - Judgement Affirmed - Superior Court
03/11/2008 - Petition for Allowance of Appeal Denied - Surpreme Court
04/05/2010 - Final Order of Dismissal of Post Conviction Relief Act Petition
04/20/2010 - Order Denying Motion for Reconsideration of Sentence

Note: Derrick Schrandt was granted immunity from prosecution.

My apologies for not linking to the "outcome" of this case. Last night I read a Blog or something asking about criminal cases in a particular neighborhood here that has been gentrified to the umpth degree. Someone said "I just know like some girl got killed by some old dude".

That broke my heart just like this case did from the minute they found Ashley. Throughout this horrific murder the media presented her with names and titles. That pizzzed me off big time. I can't tell you how many letters and e-mails I sent out blasting the "journailists". This was a kid. A 17 year old kid. Handed a bad roster in life. Finally trying to make a go of it. having an aunt who cared deeply for her, and helping her.

They should have reserved titles for a creepy old man who was a pervert. Not to mention a bold faced liar. He was never a Navy Seal. In fact he's on some list as an imposter for buying a military medal.

Thank you so much Belinda for checking all that out. I am most appreciative. I recalled him getting like 8-15 and being sickened.

On an aside at some point after he was questioned and they went to arrest him. He was found in a motel with a couple of prostitutes.

Ashley's aunt summed it up at the end of the trial telling him "I hope your daughters never come in contact with someone like you".