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$1 million bond set in murder case

NEWTON FALLS — Bond is set at $1 million for the man accused of killing a Warren man whose body was found June 15 in a wooded area on Peck Leach Road in Bristol.

Austin T. Burke, 18, is charged with murder in Newton Falls Municipal Court in connection to the shooting death of Kenneth Brandon Sample, 22, who died of a single gunshot to the head.

Burke, wearing an orange outfit given to inmates at the Trumbull County Jail, appeared Thursday morning via video before Newton Falls Municipal Court Judge Philip M. Vigorito.

Meanwhile, police in Cortland believe Burke on Tuesday robbed Pizza Joe’s on South Main Street with a gun, according to a post Wednesday on the department’s Facebook page. The department on Thursday posted the handgun believed to be used in the armed robbery.

“Officers will work with the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office today (Thursday) to file an aggravated robbery charge against 18 year old Austin Burke of Bristolville. Burke had been arrested on an outstanding murder warrant during the initial investigation of the robbery on Tuesday night,” the post states.

The charge was not filed on Thursday. Central District Court records already show Burke, 5106 Miller South Road, Bristol, faces misdemeanor charges of obstructing official business and failure to disclose personal information that were filed Wednesday. He pleaded not guilty to those charges.

Sample’s mother reported him missing June 12 after he did not return home from swimming with a friend the previous day, according to a police report. She told police Sample’s father sent him a text about 4:30 a.m., and he responded he was on his way home, but he never returned. His car was found abandoned in Niles.

“Us and the family are devastated by it,” said Sample’s father, Kenneth. “He had problems, just like every other person today, but overall, he was a good-hearted kid.”

Kenneth Sample said the family didn’t want to comment more, but will let the court process work. “Whoever is responsible for this … they deserve to be brought to justice,” Sample said.

Friends of Burke attended the court hearing.

“He’s really a good kid. I honestly don’t think that he would do this,” said Darien Chaplin, 19, of Newton Falls. “I don’t know why everybody is like … it could have been someone else just putting the blame on him, ’cause I know he does have a lot of haters who don’t really like him. But he has good friends, too, but there is also people that hate in this world, so I don’t know. I wish the best for him. I’m going to be there for him.”

rselak@tribtoday.com

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