SPEAKER_01 0:00

In Tragedy, a true crime podcast, we discuss missing persons cases, violent crime, and other sensitive topics that may be difficult for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. Our show is a place where every story matters and every voice deserves to be heard. To support this podcast, you can subscribe at www.tragedy a true crime podcast.com for early access to new episodes. And join our Facebook community, Tragedy, a True Crime Podcast, for updates, discussions, and ways to support the families we feature. Welcome to Tragedy, a True Crime Podcast. I'm Elisa.

SPEAKER_00 0:45

And I'm Michael.

SPEAKER_01 0:46

And we wanted to give some really cool updates of some things that we've been doing. I wanted to start with AdvocacyCon. This is a conference focused on advocacy that just wrapped in Albuquerque, New Mexico last weekend. This conference was really designed to support families of missing people and unresolved cases. We met a lot of really interesting nonprofits, several of who are focused on supporting missing and murdered indigenous people. We also made some good connections with some families that we'll continue to speak with and maybe supporting in the future. And it was just a really great time to spend with families who are experiencing this. We got to spend some time with Deanna Maryfield's sister and her husband and just continue to build that relationship with them. And we look forward to next year's advocacy con, which will be in Baltimore. So that would be really cool. Next up for us is Crime Story Fest. This is October 9th, 10th, and 11th. And this is at the Doubletree Hilton Boston North Shore outside of Boston. It's actually Danvers, Massachusetts. We are excited to also be invited to have a table and share our podcast at that event. So if you live in that area, you can get your tickets at crime story.com. It's C-R-I-M-E-S-T-E-R-Y dot com forward slash events. Also, we have some local updates for our North Florida community. We do want to make sure that everyone knows that we are aware of the double homicide that occurred roughly about a month ago in our community. The victims were John Looper III and Rebecca Thomas. We have been in communication with several members of both of their families, and we hope to be able to put together an episode in the near future that talks about what is happening with that case and some concerns that we have with it. Finally, we do want to remind everybody of the yearly vigil for Jody Kilgore. This is going to be on October 6th from 6 p.m. to dusk at the Clerk of Courts for Walcala County. The address is 3056 Crawfordville Highway. The family has asked that people wear red or black, and we do expect to see all of the families that we are supporting and serving in that area. Obviously, the family of Jody Kilgore, Ian Rogers family, the families of John Luper III and Rebecca Thomas, and the family of Latanya Thomas. So please come out and show your support for those families on October 6th of 2026. Every case begins with a moment that changes everything. On the afternoon of May 3rd, 2013, 23-year-old Amber Marie Burbilia was found dead near Old Sanders Road and Robert Edge Parkway in Little River, South Carolina. More than a decade later, the questions surrounding her death continue to haunt those who knew and loved her. Today we begin our examination of Amber's case, not to speculate or assign blame, but to carefully review what is documented in the official records to search for gaps in hopes of keeping her name in the spotlight and perhaps sparking a memory for those who were in her circle or living in the area in 2013. According to Ori County Records, Dispatch received an emergency call shortly after 4.30 p.m. The information coming into Dispatch was confusing and rapidly evolving. Callers reported what appeared to be a vehicle stuck off the roadway, a woman lying face down, and the possibility of a gunshot wound to the head. As officers were being dispatched, North Myrtle Beach Police Department initially responded, believing the location fell within their jurisdiction. It was quickly determined that the scene was actually in Orie County, and Orie County police assumed responsibility for the investigation. By the time Orie County officers arrived, North Myrtle Beach officers had already secured the scene. Officer Terry Fowler documented that Amber was found near her vehicle on a dirt trail just off the roadway near the Robert Edge Parkway Bridge crossing Old Sanders Drive. According to his report, Amber had been discovered by four teenagers who were driving along the dirt trail. After finding her lying face down, they immediately contacted law enforcement. As officers began assessing the scene, dispatch logs revealed that investigators' understanding of what had occurred changed rapidly. Within minutes, officers advised Dispatch that the incident appeared to be a homicide. One dispatch entry notes that Amber's body was still warm and that her vehicle was still running when officers arrived. These observations suggest investigators were dealing with a very recent crime scene. Initially, Dispatch Communications repeatedly referenced a possible shooting. But as investigators examined the scene more closely, that assessment changed. Later entries in the dispatch log state clearly that this was not a shooting, but rather a case involving blunt force trauma to the head. The coroner's records provide additional detail about what was observed at the scene. Deputy Coroner Tony Hendrick documented that Amber was found lying face down at the edge of a brush field beside a mud pit outside near the roadway. Blood was observed around her face and head. The deputy coroner also noted an injury to Amber's left hand and bruising across her upper body and back. Based on those observations, the estimated post-mortem interval was approximately one to two hours before she was discovered. Amber was transported for autopsy. According to the coroner summary, Amber's manner of death was ruled a homicide, and the official cause of death was determined to be blunt force injury to the head with extensive cerebral trauma. Even with these initial records, several important questions emerged. If Amber's vehicle was still running when officers arrived, what happened in the moments before she was found? Why was she outside of her vehicle? Why was she attacked where she was discovered? Or had she moved there after the assault? The records available to us today do not answer these questions. The reports also document a left hand injury and bruising to Amber's upper body and back. At this stage of the investigation, the records do not explain how those injuries occurred, or whether investigators believed they were defensive injuries, injuries sustained during the assault, or the result of some other event. Dispatch records reveal another intriguing detail. Later that evening, additional citizens contacted law enforcement to report suspicious vehicles they had observed in the area around the time of the homicide. One caller reported seeing a vehicle parked in a nearby driveway for several minutes before it backed out and left. Another described seeing a blonde-haired woman in the passenger seat of a Cherokee traveling on a nearby dirt road. The records we currently have do not indicate whether those reports became significant investigative leads or were later ruled out. It's also important to note what these records do not contain. Although the reports identify the four teenagers who discovered Amber as the individuals who found her and called police, the documents do not include their witness statements. We have not yet seen crime scene photographs, evidence inventories, forensic laboratory reports, search warrants, detailed detective notes, or the complete autopsy report. Those records may provide critical context that is simply absent from this initial release. As we continue this series, we'll build on these official records by speaking with Amber's family, friends, and those who have dedicated years to understanding what happened. We'll compare those conversations with the investigative documents, identify unanswered questions, and continue searching for clarity wherever the evidence leads. This is only the beginning of Amber's story. In the episodes ahead, we'll continue to examine the investigation, hear from those closest to Amber, and explore the many questions that remain unanswered more than a decade after her death.

SPEAKER_00 10:18

Why did North Myrtle Beach Police Department initially respond before the jurisdiction was corrected? Do we know that?

SPEAKER_01 10:24

In looking at the maps of the area, it seems like there was a pretty close delineation between North Myrtle Beach and Orie County. And when the young men made the phone call, I think the phone call just went to North Myrtle Beach Dispatch. When they arrived, the North Myrtle Beach Beach PD, they realized that it was not in their jurisdiction because they're very aware of where their jurisdictional line is, and they immediately called Orie County and transferred it after they had secured the scene.

SPEAKER_00 10:50

So there was no um there's no really time that was added to this investigation that could have been damaging.

SPEAKER_01 10:57

It doesn't seem so, and actually there is a full-length video of North Myrtle Beach PD arriving on scene. I think it was like maybe 45 minutes um or an hour, and we can actually even see in that video that transfer and when the Ori County PD arrives on scene.

SPEAKER_00 11:14

All right. So that makes sense. So my my second question is why did the initial gunshot get walked back to blunt force? Because I I'm not aware of a lot of cases that that's been that's been the situation.

SPEAKER_01 11:26

My sense would be that upon first arriving, this was kind of a bloody scene, and I would imagine that maybe the police department just defaulted to a gunshot wound to the head without really looking closely uh at what had happened. But once someone took a closer look, an investigator at the scene, they were able to determine that there had not been a gunshot. Rather, uh it was more likely blunt force trauma to the head, which was reinforced in the autopsy report.

SPEAKER_00 11:53

All right. So staying on that theme, blunt force trauma, was it consistent with one weapon or could there have been multiple weapons? Is there anything in the record that would tell us that?

SPEAKER_01 12:02

It's not actually in the record, but when we speak with Gina, she will talk about what the weapon was. And it turns out that it was a described as a rock or a boulder, quite large in size. I remember her saying it was the size of four basketballs, and that is what caused the blunt force trauma.

SPEAKER_00 12:22

All right. So, you know, again, based on the summary, do we know anything about the vehicle sitting in the driveway nearby? And is there any information on that at all? Was that person talked to? Is that person even identified?

SPEAKER_01 12:35

I don't believe we have any further information about that. I did do a FOIA request as always. I got about 10 pages. Mostly it was comprised of the dispatch record. Also, when Gina, who we will speak to, sent a FOIA request, she got three very small pages. So there's not a lot of information that was provided through the police department when we understand why this is still an open case. I don't remember anything specifically to that references that vehicle. You've been listening to Tragedy, a true crime podcast. Our purpose is to honor victims by sharing their stories through the voices of friends, family, and those whose lives were forever changed. If today's episode resonated with you, we encourage you to subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast so these important stories continue to be heard. Together, we can preserve their memories and ensure their voices are never forgotten. If you have ideas for cases we should cover or questions about what you heard, you can connect with us through our Facebook group, Tragedy a True Crime Podcast, on X at Tragedy Podcast, by email at Tragedy a True Crime Podcast at gmail.com, or by visiting our website www.tragedy a true crime podcast.com. Thank you for listening, and we hope you'll join us next time.