The tragic suicide of West Wendover Detective Donald Burnum last Thursday night raised more questions than answers for investigators.
Burnum’s body was discovered outside the city limits south of Wendover near US 93.
A 23 year veteran of the West Wendover Police Department Burnum began as a patrolman and worked his way up to become the lead detective of the department.
Burnum played a crucial role in the arrests and convictions of teenage killers Cody Patten and Toni Fratto for the murder Mickie Costanzo.
According to police reports no foul play is suspected and the investigation is being handle by the Elko Sheriff’s Department.
According to investigators Burnum displayed no obvious signs of depression or emotional distress in the days leading up to his death. He left no note and no easy to find text message or e-mail to explain his actions.
There was however one clue that could indicate all was not well with Detective Burnum. On the Tuesday following his death the High Desert Advocate publisher Howard Copelan received a telephone call from a woman identifying herself as Rebecca Peacock of Salt Lake City.
After confirming Burnum death the woman related that she saw Burnum less than a week before as he was investigating the Malorrie Morgan alleged murder.
“It was a bit surreal,” said Copelan. “I knew the case was closed in May but this woman was insisting that Burnum visited her a week before he died in full uniform for what turned out to be the last of three interviews. At first I thought I was wrong she was so insistent. but in the course of our conversation I discovered she did not know the coroner Detective Sergeant Nicholas S. Czegledi or the report from the two state medical examiners Dr. Ellen G. I. Clark, M.D. and Piotr Kubiczek, M.D. I told her to contact Detective Czegledi.”
Morgan, 29, of Taylorsville Utah was found dead in her hotel room at the Montego Bay Casino/Resort the morning of February 3rd.
Morgan had arrived in Wendover Monday with common-law husband Mike Rasmussen also of Taylorsville.
“There were no preliminary signs of foul play,” said WWPD Chief Burdel Welsh. .”However the autopsy and toxicology reports have not come in yet.
The dead woman was the daughter of Nephi, Utah Police Chief Mike Morgan and the mother of six children.
But while no signs of foul play have been discovered several bloggers identifying themselves as relatives of the dead woman have all but alleged Morgan’s death was no accident.
After the Nevada Medical Examiners ruled that a Utah woman’s death in a Wendover Hotel room was drug related related the case was officially closed in May.
“The 29 year old Caucasian female, Malarie Morgan, died due to mixed drug toxicity due to oxycodone, hydrocodone, and diazepam,” wrote Elko Sheriff’s Detective Sergeant Nicholas S. Czegledi in a press release. “This is the opinion of the medical examiners Dr. Ellen G. I. Clark, M.D. and Piotr Kubiczek, M.D.”
“There was simply not enough evidence to merit a charge let alone a conviction for murder,” Czegledi said.
His assessment of the case was echoed by West Wendover Police Chief Burdel Welsh and by WWPD Lt. Donald Lininger. Both of whom expressed surprise that Burnum was still investigating the case.
“It was not unusual for Detective Burnum to go two times a week to Salt Lake for investigations,” Lininger said. “But he didn’t inform anyone he was still working that case. The case was closed there was not enough evidence for a charge.”
Peacock related however that Burnum was most encouraging telling her that every piece of evidence she provided would help the district attorney press charges.
“Listen sometimes a cop will make an appeasement meeting with crime victims,” Czegledi said. “Shows we care. This doesn’t sound like that. Maybe this could have been a sign that something was the matter with Detective Burnum.”
DEDICATION
This book, “The Mighty Companion” is dedicated exclusively to my one and only big brother, Donald Burnum. A man who after serving 23 years with The West Wendover Nevada Police Force committed suicide in the early morning hours of July 2nd, 2015.
My thoughts and prayers along with all of his family will be there for him in all of his endeavors regardless. Forever, and in all ways. As for the many people whose lives that have been touched by him along the way, he will always be remembered by us for that.
That means that this book, “The Mighty Companion” is dedicated by me solely as a memorial to him. Maybe now he will rest with the knowledge of being ever so loved? Even up until this very day. We will carry his memories with us forever, and he will always be missed and never forgotten by us. His friends and family of whom he so hastily has left behind.
And, for whatever reason he deemed necessary to take his own life, one that was so dear and precious to all of us, and to so many others regardless of what their needs may’ve been at that time. I hope that all of this has the same meaning to us as it does to all of them, and that whatever pain he may’ve been in is now over with.
But, I will miss you until the day I see you again Big Brother. But, until that day comes, please carry on in good faith and in good hope for the future. Whatever, and however you see fit for it to be. Whatever it is that God still holds in store for all of us we will be well. But until then, in good faith and in good time until the day that I can see you again! “May the Blessings Be?”
As the tragities have occurred so closely, deeply feel that this is no quinky Dink. This story goes beyond and above anybody’s mental comprehensive. An I still am devestaded of the loss of both of these innocent ppl