Lily Belle Burk, 17

July 25, 2009, 6:28 a.m.

Lily Burk, a 17-year old white girl, was found slain in her car in a parking lot surrounded by warehouses near downtown Los Angeles on the morning of Saturday, July 25, authorities said.

Burk, a student at Oakwood School in North Hollywood, had left her Los Feliz home Friday afternoon about 2:30 p.m to run an errand. More than an hour after picking up exams for her mother, who is an attorney and an adjunct professor at Southwestern University School of Law on Wilshire Boulevard, Burk made separate calls to her parents.

She asked them how to get cash using her credit card at an ATM, police said. Her parents told her to come home.

When she had not returned by 5 p.m., her parents became worried. They contacted Los Angeles police that night. Her body was found in the front passenger seat of her black Volvo shortly after 6 a.m. on Saturday.

Sgt. Miguel Arana of the Los Angeles Police Department said there were signs of a struggle inside the car. Burk appeared to have head injuries from striking the passenger side of the front windshield, but the car did not show signs of having been in a crash, he said.

Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz said that the cause of death appeared to be blunt-force trauma and that there was "strong evidence" that Burk was killed by 5 p.m. Friday. He declined to disclose more details.

Updated 11:30 a.m. Monday: Los Angeles police arrested Charlie Samuel, a 50-year old black man in connection with Burk's slaying. Sources, who spoke to The Times on the condition that they not be named because the investigation was ongoing, said detectives believed the motive was robbery and that Burk appeared to have been abducted from that area.

Samuel was arrested at 5:30 p.m. Friday on suspicion of possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia on 3rd Street in downtown Los Angeles -- at least 12 hours before Lily's body was discovered nearby in her black Volvo at 5th and Alameda streets. While in custody, he was arrested again Sunday at 9 p.m. in connection with the homicide, according to sheriff's jail records. He is being held without bail.

-- Margot Roosevelt and Ruben Vives

Police continue search for killer of 17-year old Lily Burk

Suspect in Lily Burk's slaying has history of violent crimes, drug problems, police say

Photo: Lily Burk. Credit: Sarah Faulk

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28 reader comments

This beautiful, innocent young girl's brutal murder is a tragedy. Downtown LA has become a cesspool overrun with homeless. You can't walk anywhere in downtown LA without being hassled, intimidated and threatened by these people. It breaks my heart to see the destruction of our once beautiful city. We need a significantly increased police presence downtown. Maybe we can't get all off the homeless off the streets but at least we can identify the parole violators, bail jumpers and those with outstanding warrants like Charlie Samuels and put them in jail where they belong. The police can also make it clear that any homeless person committing battery or assault on another citizen will be arrested and prosecuted. We owe that much to our citizens and to Lily Burk. It breaks my heart what happened to this girl.

— Don Campbell Aug. 24, 2017 at 2:01 a.m.

i only wish i wouldhave made a u turn
and went back cause i was driving by alameda st and 5th wen i saw alot of homless people looking in a car that looked like it was abandoned.i use alameda st to get me back and forth to hollywood and it was maybe 3am on my way home i thought some one stold the car and left it ther.but wen i saw the news i jumped in my truck and went back it was taped off by police .thats wen i knew i should have turned around.also that street is known 4 organized crime the homless are used as lookouts,i was born and raised in LOS ANGELES i know that street very well .i took my nephew ther about 6yrs ago and let know if he doesent finish school he would end up living ther ,he went on to join the army and now doing real good.ther was always atleast 50 homless people hanging around at all times.the city shouldhave already cleaned that area but like i said it was known 4 organized crime and we all know alot of police are also known 2 turn the other cheek .i've been at that gas station so many times and useto see police passing by but never turn in that block.i stopped at that gas station alot .and now that Lily is no longer with us they cleaned up that street now they have street lights and i saw 2 new cameras on the corner ware Lilt's car was parked.i wish i couldhave knew LILY BURKE. I SHOULDHAVE MADE A U TURN MAYBE I COULD HAVE HELPED IN 1 WAY OR THEE OTHER.

— LEONARD GUILLEN July 7, 2012 at 5:32 a.m.

I remember seeing this case on the news and crying about it...I too have daughters who are coming of age and I know the time will come when I will have to take off the leash and let them find their way...Its hard for me with my children still living so I know its very difficult for the parents of this young and growing woman to deal with her being TAKEN away so early....It seems that this young woman had a promising future based on the fact that she was already working on her education to better herself...now its gone and some BUM gets to sit in jail for who knows how long before he is put out of his misery...and over what?...a few dollars...I believe that if California would move faster with death penalties people would not be so quick to commit heinious acts in this State...(I know wishful thinking)...may this young lady reat in peace and find glory on the other side...May God help to keep those that loved her stable and may it bring them together as one unit...Life is precious and live every moment as if it is your last...LOVE LIVE LET GO AND LET GOD

— FOol Dec. 9, 2011 at 12:45 p.m.

Graham:

Regular readers of the Homicide Report know that since it began in January 2007 the report has always included the race/ethnicity of both the victim and, when known, the alleged killer. The Homicide Report departs from the Los Angeles Times style, which normally would preclude the inclusion of race/ethnicity, in the interest of presenting the most complete and accurate demographic picture of who is dying in homicides in Los Angeles County. A more thorough explanation of the rationale is available in our FAQ section, as well as directly above the comment form you used to submit your question. I'm also including it here for the convenience of new readers:

http://projects.latimes.com/homicide-report/about/#race

— Megan Garvey/Los Angeles Times May 25, 2010 at 11:17 p.m.