2 arrested after pregnant woman found stabbed to death in LaGrange
Two people were arrested Wednesday in connection with the stabbing death of a pregnant woman whose body was found by LaGrange police officers on a routine patrol.
The woman, identified as Breanna Burgess, was found around 2:35 a.m. on Fort Drive with stab wounds. According to LaGrange police, she was 20 weeks pregnant.
By Wednesday evening, detectives had closed in on two suspects, identified as Curteze Avery and Shallandra Freeman, who were located at their home on Alton Drive and arrested. Police said they also found “evidence of the crime.”
“Detectives were able to determine that Avery, Freeman and Burgess had been acquaintances for several years and the victim was targeted,” a police spokesperson said in a news release. “The incident was not a random act of violence involving strangers.”
No motive was disclosed. Avery and Freeman are being held in the Troup County jail without bond on charges of murder and feticide.
A GoFundMe page created by the family in order to raise funds for the funeral said Burgess was 26 years old with three children and another one on the way.
“The unborn baby did not survive,” the page, created by Burgess’ aunt Melissa Nicole Kurian, said. “She didn’t deserve this and this was the last thing we expected to happen.”
Burgess’ body will be sent to the GBI medical examiner for an autopsy, the Troup County Coroner’s Office told the LaGrange Daily News.
LaGrange police are continuing to investigate the death. Anyone with information is asked to contact the department at 706-883-2603 or Troup County Crime Stoppers at 706-812-1000.
About the Author
Mary Helene is a reporting intern working with the Crime & Public Safety team and a student at Mercer University. She has previously worked as a reporter for AL.com and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Cluster, Mercer's student newspaper.
