'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAIAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUI/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAz5ED/8QAIRAAAgEDAwUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMCAAQRBRITFjJBUWH/2gAIAQEAAT8Av+mrTU0ixVfajYxxNhm/glLI7Qdnj3imlBZPiW6K8naJMBIH04r/xAAUEQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oACAECAQE/AH//xAAUEQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oACAEDAQE/AH//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The shooting of Laurie Bursey in 2005 brought the small town of Champlin to a standstill. Her death was initially reported as a suicide but the investigations soon determined that it had been a homicide. The arrest of her husband, Kurt Thomas Bird, closed the case as he was sentenced to life in prison a year later.
The American Monster episode The Biker & His Bride brings all the key details of Laurie Bursey's murder on July 14, 2024, at 9 p.m. EST on Investigation Discovery. The official synopsis reads,
"Laurie Bursey spent her life searching for happiness; after two marriages and three children, she thinks she finally found it in southern trucker Kurt Bird; but, a violent abuser lurks behind Kurt's bad-boy swagger, and happiness soon becomes fear."
Trending
Five details about Laurie Bursey's murder explored
1) Laurie Bursey was found dead on August 2, 2005
On August 2, 2005, Laurie Bursey was found shot to death in her bed by the police authorities. Laurie had been shot in the back of the head with a .45-caliber semiautomatic gun which was in her hand placed above her head. Laurie lay face-down on a bed on the pillows with a contact wound on her head.
The officers notice no signs of struggle inside the room. The crime lab technician from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Department, Gary Gendron, mentioned that the bullet was found inside her head at a 45-degree angle suggesting that her death was a homicide.
2) The 911 call reporting Bursey's death mentioned that it was a suicide
The local police received a 911 call at noon on Tuesday reporting a suicide at the Birds' residence. However, as Sergeant Chris Larrabee and other officers reached the location, they found Laurie's husband waiting outside. Per court documents, Larrabee asked if Kurt had found her body inside the house to which he replied saying that it was not quite like that.
Kurt mentioned in his testimony that Laurie had attempted suicide once which worried him while he was on the road. He also mentioned that Laurie took medication for mental health problems early on.
3) Laurie and her husband, Kurt, had been arguing before the tragedy
As Kurt Thomas Bird was interrogated after Laurie Bursey's murder, he revealed that the couple had been arguing since the evening of August 1. Kurt and Laurie had been in their bedroom talking about whether Laurie had molested one of Kurt's daughters from his previous relationship.
As the argument continued into the early morning hours, Kurt claimed that Laurie had pulled out a gun and had been fooling around with it when a struggle ensued and led to the weapon misfiring and killing her. In another account, he mentioned that he had entered the bedroom to find Laurie with a gun at the edge of the bed wishing she had been dead.
4) Kurt Thomas Bird had two cases of domestic assault against him
The investigations into Laurie Bursey's murder brought forth two cases of domestic assault against Kurt Thomas Bird. One of the cases was dated back to 1995 for assaulting his wife, per court documents.
During Kurt Bird's trial, Laurie's friend testified that the two of them shared a difficult relationship wherein Kurt had been verbally abusive to his wife. He reportedly accused her of extramarital affairs which led to Laurie consider moving in with her friend on August 2. Laurie Bursey had reportedly mentioned that Kurt would divorce her or worse, kill her if she tried to move out.
5) Kurt Bird was sentenced to life in prison in February 2006
Kurt Thomas Bird was charged with first-degree domestic abuse murder, second-degree murder, and first-degree premeditated murder after his arrest. He pleaded not guilty and informed the court about his intention to prove mental insanity. Kurt alleged that he had been experiencing psychotic symptoms which led to the mishap.
However, the jury found him guilty of all three charges and sentenced him to life in prison in February 2006. He is presently serving his time at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Oak Park Heights.
Catch all the details of Laurie Bursey's murder as American Monster airs on Investigation Discovery on Sunday.
