HARRISBURG, Ill. (AP) — A southern Illinois man has been charged in connection with his estranged wife’s disappearance.
On Wednesday, 56-year-old Brian Burns of Harrisburg was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one charge of concealment of homicidal death. He’s accused of shooting his wife, 49-year-old Carla Burns, and then burning her body and spreading the ashes in an attempt to cover up the crime.
Court records show Carla Burns sought a restraining order against Brian Burns because she feared his alleged verbal abuse would become physical.
Brian Burns is being held on $1 million bond. It wasn’t immediately known if he has an attorney who can comment on his behalf.
Authorities haven’t released details on the missing woman’s remains or what led them to suspect her husband.
