Officer’s murderer sentenced to mental institution

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

A Missouri man charged with first degree murder in the death of a Caruthersville police officer will spend an "indefinite period of time" in a mental institution, according to the Missouri Attorney General's Office.

According to Eric Slusher, Press Secretary for the Missouri Attorney General's Office, Deonta Williamson plead not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in St. Charles County Circuit Court. Williamson was charged in the murder of Evan Burns, an officer with the Caruthersville Police Department.

The court accepted Williamson's plea.

Slusher said Williamson was ordered to be committed to the Missouri Department of Mental Health. The criminal case has since been sealed, according to Slusher.

Williamson had been scheduled to appear for a jury trial in January, 2015 in St. Charles County after the case was granted a change of venue from Pemiscot County.

According to the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Office, Williamson ran a stolen 2002 Cadillac Escalade pickup truck into the police cruiser of Officer Burns on August 16, 2011. Burns was pronounced dead at the scene by the Pemiscot County Coroner.

Police say William ran from police when Officers Richard Altice and Burns, both with the Caruthersville Police Department, used their cruisers to block Missouri Highway 84 into the city limits.

Police say Williamson used his SUV to clip the bumper of Altice's car before crashing into Evan's unit. Williamson came to rest in a corn field where he was arrested. 

Altice was treated and released from a local hospital. Burns was killed.