A 22-year-old New Jersey woman has been accused of brutally beating another woman to death with a broom. at a house in Atlantic City on the weekend, the officials said.
Seanie Barnes he is charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter in the death of 34-year-old Christina Burdett, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement Thursday. She was found “unresponsive” during a welfare check at a home on Sheridan Avenue Saturday morning and pronounced dead just after 10 a.m.
Since then, the Southern Regional Bureau of Forensic Medicine ruled Burdett's death a homicide.. At the same time, the cause was cited as “complications of multiple blunt force trauma resulting from chronic abuse.”
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by NJ Advance Media, Barnes, 21 attacked Burdett with a broomas a result of which she suffered injuries to her head, ears and face. Investigators also noted that it appeared someone was trying to treat Burdette and bandage some of her wounds.
The victim's family previously told PHL 17 that Burdette was covered in bruises and that her head was wrapped in gauze when they examined her body.
In addition to Barnes, two other people were in the house when police arrived and they were both questioned by authorities. They told officers Burdette came home around 2 a.m. Saturday with “serious injuries to her body and a bandage on her head,” according to the affidavit.
Upon further investigation, authorities determined that they had been given false information about Burdette's injuries.
Police said Barnes later admitted that she “strangled and killed” Burdetteaccording to the indications. The witness also told investigators that Barnes assaulted Burdett “several times” the day before police were called to the home.
It is unclear what, if any, relationship Barnes had with Burdette.
