Kelsey Turner: Ex-Playboy model faces 25 yrs in prison for killing sugar daddy who stopped paying rent
Warning: This content contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion is advised.
STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA: Ex-Playboy model Kelsey Turner entered into an Alford plea on Wednesday, November 9, for murdering California psychiatrist Dr Thomas Burchard, 71, for allegedly not paying her house rent of $3200. It is claimed that the duo was in a relationship, and he was paying her rent for at least a year. Later, he reportedly traveled from California to Las Vegas to tell Turner that he could no longer foot the bill, which allegedly led to a fight.
Turner, who has entered the plea, will face 10-25 years in prison. Meanwhile, Turner’s co-defendant and former boyfriend, Jon Kennison, previously pleaded guilty to murder and conspiracy in the case, reported Daily Mail. This heinous crime came to light after LVMPD officers discovered Burchard’s body was stuffed inside the trunk of an abandoned vehicle near the Lake Mead National Recreation Area entrance in southeastern Nevada on March 7, 2019.
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Who is Kelsey Turner?
Turner is a popular ex-Playboy model from Arkansas. She is currently 27 years old. According to Heavy.com, she describes herself as “impulsive." Further, she says, “I love emotions and fun, I live my life fully aware that it is the only one you have.” The outlet claims that in an earlier interview with the model, she claimed about love and sex, “Take the time to heat the oven. No one would put a lasagna in an oven at 200 degrees. The same advice applies to women with men. Take some time to really get your “O”. If you are in a hurry, it is likely that only one takes pleasure, it is not a race. lol.” Meanwhile, she also appeared on the cover of OneTen magazine in 2017. Her next court appearance is scheduled for November 15 and the sentencing shall occur on January 10, 2023.
According to News Week, Turner has also entered a Maxim Cover Girl competition, finishing 8th in the West Group Nine category. Back then she said, "I'm actually a very talented R&B and blues singer. I would consider this a secret talent because I decided pretty early on that I wanted to preserve my music as a personal and private hobby. I have a keyboard in my room and record in studios often." She also has a mother named Susan.
What are the allegations and occurrences in this murder?
Soon after the body of Burchard was found in Las Vegas, the former model was arrested on March 21, 2019, in Stockton, California, and Kennison was arrested on April 17, 2019, in Las Vegas. Kennison was reportedly sentenced to 18 to 45 years in prison for his role in the murder. In a jailhouse interview with Access Hollywood via New York Post, he denied claims suggesting the psychiatrist was his girlfriend's sugar daddy. He claimed, "we're not monsters, we didn't do it," and instead pointed a finger of blame at his girlfriend's former housemate, Diana Pena.
However, he allegedly confirmed that the psychiatrist had been footing all of Turner's Las Vegas house, car, and other bills. Judy Earp, Burchard's fiancée and his life partner of 17 years, claimed that Burchard had given Turner some $300,000 over the years. However, before his death, he reportedly informed the model that he would no longer pay for her lifestyle.
Meanwhile, Pena claimed that Kennison chased Burchard with a baseball bat after the doctor argued aggressively with Turner. She also allegedly added that the victim had a bruise on his head. In the jailhouse interview, he said he had not killed the psychiatrist. Further, he added, "I would never hurt him. I would never harm him. I never did anything to him. When I left, he was perfectly fine."