On March 27, 2024, Curteze Avery, 30, of Lafeyette, Alabama, pleaded guilty to the 2022 murder of LaGrange resident Breanna Burgess who was 20 weeks pregnant. The Troup County Grand Jury indicted Avery on October 6, 2022, in Case Number 22-R-0761 for Malice Murder and Feticide. Pursuant to an agreement negotiated by the State, Superior Court Judge Erica Tisinger sentenced Avery to two concurrent life sentences for the murder of 26-year old Burgess and Ms. Burgess’s 20-week old unborn child.
Senior Assistant District Attorney David McLaughlin prosecuted the case and LaGrange Police Department Detective Charles Brown led the investigation, which revealed the gruesome details of the crime. Ms. Burgess was found dead near Fort Drive and Whitesville Road in LaGrange, GA, having been stabbed in the throat at least 14 times. She and her unborn child were pronounced dead at the scene.
Through thorough investigation, it was discovered that the last person seen with Ms. Burgess was Curteze Avery. Investigators were able to track the movement of Avery's neon green Chevrolet Camaro using LaGrange traffic cameras to and from the murder scene. The Camaro was later found at a residence in LaGrange with incriminating evidence. Avery was found hiding inside the residence, and further searches revealed blood throughout the car and residence, with DNA analysis confirming the match to Ms. Burgess.
In light of the heinous crime committed by Avery, an unnamed source stated, "Curteze Avery cut short the life Breanna Burgess and her unborn child. For this, it is just that he is now sentenced to serve Life in prison." The source also mentioned, "While the family of Ms. Burgess will never fully heal from this senseless crime, the District Attorney’s Office is relieved to have obtained a Life sentence without the family experiencing the difficulty and uncertainty of a jury trial."
Pursuant to Georgia law, Avery will be eligible for parole in 2052, with the parole board retaining the authority to deny his request. The sentencing brings a form of closure to the tragic loss suffered by the family and friends of Breanna Burgess, ensuring that justice is served for the victims.