Man kidnaps ex, says he’ll kill her and make it appear to be an accident, TN cops say

A 52-year-old man kidnapped his ex-girlfriend outside a bar and said he would make her death look like an accident, Tennessee authorities said.

Now, Roy Burcham is charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault, according to Shelby County court records.

McClatchy News reached out to his attorney for comment Oct. 25 and did not immediately receive a response.

The evening of Oct. 18, Burcham spotted his ex-girlfriend in her car outside a pub in Memphis, then he forced his way into the passenger seat and told her to drive, officers with the Memphis Police Department wrote in an arrest affidavit.

He is accused of throwing a drink in her eyes and punching her multiple times as she drove to his home.

When they got there, the woman reported that the attacks continued. Burcham “terrorized her by repeatedly telling her of his plans to kill her and make it appear as an accident,” police said.

She said that he made her inhale smoke that he claimed was from fentanyl, put a plastic bag over her head and beat her in his front yard, according to police.

The next morning, she said she convinced him to let her go as long as she didn’t report him, according to police. She had bruising across her body when she talked to investigators later that day, police said.

He was booked in jail Oct. 23, records show.

This story was originally published October 25, 2024 at 12:12 PM with the headline "Man kidnaps ex, says he’ll kill her and make it appear to be an accident, TN cops say."