The tragic case of Shannon Burgess shocked Canada, and her death remains a devastating story. Here’s an overview of what happened to Shannon and the subsequent actions of her killer, her husband Joshua Burgess.
Shannon Burgess Goes Missing
In November 2014, Shannon Burgess, a 25-year-old aspiring actress, disappeared from her Calgary, Alberta, home. On Dec. 1, 2014, she was reported missing after missing a dinner with her brother. Her belongings, including her car, were still at home, but Shannon was nowhere to be found.
Her husband, Joshua Burgess, initially told authorities that he wasn’t concerned because Shannon frequently traveled for auditions. She had appeared in several short films that year, including Scared Stiff and Ascension. However, Shannon’s family quickly grew suspicious of Joshua’s behavior, with her sister, Erin Madill, becoming obsessed with finding Shannon. Despite Joshua’s reassurances, Shannon never resurfaced.
Open Marriage and Tension in the Relationship
Joshua told police that they had an open marriage, and that Shannon was also seeing another man, Ian Wallace. However, weeks before her disappearance, Shannon allegedly told Joshua that she wanted to close their marriage. They had argued about Joshua dating another woman, which caused significant tension in their relationship.
Growing Suspicion Surrounding Joshua’s Behavior
As police and Shannon’s family investigated, they found Joshua’s behavior increasingly suspicious. He was forgetful about the details of the night Shannon vanished, and on Nov. 28, police found that Shannon’s phone had been moved and was showing signs of being outside the residence — raising questions about whether Shannon was still alive and who was using her phone.
Joshua’s Shocking Confession
In July 2015, six months after Shannon’s disappearance, authorities obtained a search warrant for Joshua’s home and personal items. Joshua initially stalled but then confessed to killing Shannon during a phone conversation with Detective Christina Witt. He became emotional and tearfully admitted, “I killed my wife.” When he came out of the house, he was covered in blood after attempting to cut his own throat. He was hospitalized but taken into custody the following day.
Joshua’s Motive: A Fatal Argument
Joshua admitted that the night Shannon died, they had an argument after what he called “angry makeup sex.” He claimed that Shannon regretted marrying him, and in his anger, he wanted her to “stop talking.” According to his confession, he strangled Shannon with his hands and a belt. Afterward, he placed her body in a Rubbermaid container, moved it multiple times, and eventually buried her in the front yard of their home.
Joshua’s Arrest and Sentencing
Joshua was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Initially, he pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty the day before his trial in December 2017. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years.
In his statement at sentencing, Joshua expressed deep regret for breaking his vows and failing his wife. He said, “I’m very sorry for the vows that I made… I failed her in that.”
Aftermath and Impact
Joshua’s actions left Shannon’s family devastated. They had trusted him and never imagined he could be capable of such a horrific crime. Her sister, Erin, and the rest of the family, continue to mourn the loss of Shannon, whose bright future was tragically cut short.
Shannon’s case has left a lasting impact, particularly on the community and her family, who now live with the trauma of losing a loved one to domestic violence.
