Mark Stamey never suspected the man he was doing drugs with, Patrick Burris, would later be revealed as a serial killer responsible for the deaths of five people in South Carolina. The two men met in 2009 through a drug dealer while Stamey was struggling with addiction, often couch surfing or living on the streets. Despite Burris’s occasional odd behavior, Stamey did not think much of it.
In hindsight, Stamey now realizes that while he and Burris were using drugs together, Burris was also traveling to South Carolina, committing a violent killing spree. Between June 27 and July 3, 2009, Burris killed five people, including a peach farmer, a mother and daughter, and a father and his 15-year-old daughter.
A Series of Murders
Burris’ first victim was 63-year-old Kline Cash, a peach farmer, who was shot in his home on June 27, 2009. He followed up with the brutal murders of Hazel Linder, 83, and her daughter, Gena Linder, 50, both of whom were tied up and shot.
Shortly after, Burris killed 48-year-old Stephen Tyler and his 15-year-old daughter, Abby. The killings were widely publicized, and police were on the lookout for a suspect. However, Stamey had no idea he was spending time with the perpetrator.
A Dangerous Encounter
During the time that Burris was carrying out these murders, Stamey and Burris spent time together, using drugs in Gastonia, North Carolina. On one occasion, Burris even mentioned a chilling remark to Stamey: “One day, you’re going to have a story to tell.” Stamey brushed it off at the time but now sees it as an ominous premonition.
Stamey recalled one particularly tense moment when the police arrived at a house where they were staying. Burris, a convicted felon, had a gun with him, but Stamey didn’t think much of it, as it was common for people in their situation to carry weapons. Later, after the police left, Burris had his gun on him as they made their way to another location.
A Fatal Shooting
It was at a family property that the police returned and confronted Burris. When officers attempted to arrest him, Burris shot at one of them, hitting the officer in the thigh. The officers responded by shooting Burris, who was killed in the exchange.
Stamey, stunned by the turn of events, was questioned by law enforcement, though he had no idea at that point that Burris was the man behind the string of murders in South Carolina.
It was only when Stamey returned home that he learned the truth. He turned on the TV to hear news reports confirming that Burris had been the suspect in the killings. Ballistics from Burris’s gun had matched the weapons used in the murders. Stamey was left shocked and struggling to reconcile the man he knew with the horrific reality.
Life After the Dark Days
Stamey, now a successful businessman running Stamey Plumbing in Dallas, has turned his life around. He stopped using drugs in 2016 after completing a cognitive behavioral therapy program through the Department of Veterans Affairs. He had struggled with addiction since a sledding accident in 1998 left him with an injury that led to a long-term dependence on pain medication.
In 2023, Stamey recommitted to Christianity and found peace through his faith. He now teaches Sunday school and leads a Bible study, finding purpose and solace in helping others.
Reflecting on the past, Stamey is convinced that he and his sister might have been next on Burris’s list of victims.
Through his story, he hopes to offer hope to others facing the darkness of addiction. “If God can bring me through that, He can bring you through the darkness of addiction,” he said, sharing his journey of survival, redemption, and faith.
Stamey has found peace in his faith and service, attending church multiple times a week and working to serve others. His harrowing story is a reminder of the profound impact that addiction and the choices we make can have, and how sometimes, even in the darkest moments, there is hope for redemption and change.
