A former Kansas City firefighter was accused Thursday of gunning down his ex-wife, who was the daughter of a retired Belleville News-Democrat vice president.
Prosecutors charged Dominic V. Burton, 41, with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Jennifer N. Burton.
Jennifer Burton was the daughter of Frank and Joan Duke of Swansea. Frank Duke is a retired vice president of the Belleville News-Democrat.
Police found the body of Jennifer Burton, 36, in Dominic's apartment Wednesday night.
According to court records, a woman called police late Wednesday and said Dominic Burton had called her and said he had just shot Jennifer Burton. The caller led police to Dominic's apartment in the 1300 block of Valentine Road.
Investigators were unsure why Jennifer was at Dominic's apartment.
Inside the apartment, police found Jennifer Burton's body, as well as ammunition and what appeared to be a makeshift silencer: a bottle with duct tape on it, according to court documents.
Dominic Burton was arrested Thursday morning at 44th Street and Belleview Avenue.
According to records from their divorce proceedings, the Burtons wed in 1989 and were divorced in January.
Jennifer Burton was awarded primary residential custody of their two daughters, ages 6 and 15. Dominic Burton was granted visitation rights and ordered to pay child support.
According to court filings, Dominic Burton has unsuccessfully sought new hearings on the couple's divorce. The most recent denial came in March.
Kathleen Wiedeman, a friend of Jennifer Burton's, said the victim was a "really thoughtful loving person ... she was the kind of person, if she thought about you, she'd pick up the phone and call you."
Jennifer Burgon was an application analyst supervisor at DST, and had worked for the company since 1990.
Dominic Burton was a firefighter from late 1989 through mid-2003, the department said. Department officials would not comment further.
A co-worker of Jennifer Burton's said a fund had been set up to help her children. Donations can be made to the Chelsea and Isabella Burton contribution account at any Bank of America.
Distributed by the Associated Press
