Thrill Killers  

Q: Tell us about your career in law enforcement. Have you always been with the Johnston Police Department? When did you start there and how long have you been a detective?
A: I started with the Johnston Police Department in August 1984. The police academy was just like boot camp but we did not have to stay there. Runnings miles on end and doing physical training until we couldn't stand up straight. The academy consisted of new recruits from all over the state. The recruits represented various police departments as Rhode Island is unique being that the Providence Police Department and the Rhode Island State Police being the only other departments that run their own academy. I graduated the academy in December of 1984 and proceeded to begin work right after the graduation ceremony. I mean right after. There was no time for parties etc. I graduated at around noon time and began work the same night on the 4pm to 12 am shift. I worked the 4-12 shift for approximately 5 years enjoying every moment of it. It was our busiest shift and as a young officer that is something you look forward to each and every night. I was married five months after getting on the job so it was a trying time for all. Attempting to adjust to both life styles at the same time. In 1992 I past up a promotion to sargeant and instead became a detective. A move that eat at me for some time. Always wondering if I did the right thing or not, but as years went on I knew that I did not because I loved the challenge of solving crimes.
Q: Johnston is situated just to the west of Providence, the next town over from the diverse capital city of Rhode Island. As a police detective there, how prevalent is the crime of homicide? And prior to the case you wrote about in this book, did you work on many other homicide cases.
A: Johnston is a unique town in itself. Know as one of the most densely consent rated Italian catholic towns in the United States with a population of approx. 30,000. Rhode Island with strong ties to the mob was controlled by Raymond L.S. Patriarca who resided in the town. The town had it's fair share of homicides over the years or should I say that Johnston was a dumping ground for homicides that occurred elsewhere. I had worked on one other murder case where I was lead detective but that case was a relative easy solve. By the time that I came on duty for that case the patrol guys had already picked up the suspects as he was walking away from his apartment after stabbing an 18 year old 33 times after the two of them smoked marijuana together. The uniform guys on the job had a running joke and called each other border patrol trying to stem the flow of criminals entering into Johnston from Providence. It was a thankless job but the guys did a great job. At times it seemed like nothing or no one drove into the town without raising some suspicion.The guys knew their beats and who was up to no good.
Q: Take us briefly through the major details of this double homicide. What happened on the night of June 8,2000, and into the early morning hours of June 9th?
A: On June 8th, Jason and Amy along with their friends made plans to meet in Providence to go dancing. Dancing was a big passion for Jason who had recently began dating Amy. They met in the parking lot of a place called Tommy's Lounge and proceeded to go to a club called Bootleggers. After a night of dancing and hanging with their friends among which was Amy's ex-boyfriend Jeff Harper, They drove back to the parking lot of Tommy's Lounge where Jason and Amy hung out listening to music and talking. Burdick, Floyd Sanchez, Anderson and Day started out with the intentions of robbing someone. The city of Providence was full of college students and there was plenty of picking for the five. After several aborted attempts of robbing people the five set the sights on Amy and Jason. Floyd and Burdick were the two who committing the carjacking and proceeded to place Amy and Jason inside of Jasons' car and drove them to a secluded golf course that was under construction. Floyd and Burdick were being followed in a separate car by Sanchez, Anderson and Day and at the golf course there was discussion amongst the five as to raping Amy.Floyd stopped that from happening and then proceeded to shoot Jason twice in the head and Amy once in the head as the two clung together. The five divided up their spoils, $18 and took Jason's car and drove to a gas station where they used the blood money to put gas in their car.
Q: What separated this case from any of the other investigations that you've bee a part of in your career?
A: From the beginning I knew that this case was unlike any other. Yes Rhode Island had other heinous cases but what separated this one was that the victims had no connection to the killers what so ever. Just two innocent teenagers out enjoying life only to have it taken away by these five. The people of the this state were up in arms. knowing that it was such a random act of violence and now calling for their elected officials to do what Rhode Islanders voted against in years gone by, they wanted these killers executed. There were petitions being signed for the death penalty. Rhode Islanders were elated when the Federal Government stepped in and took the case over. Being that the government had the death penalty for carjacking death resulting.
Q In Rhode Island, this was a very high profile crime. Was there added pressure due to media and public interest to solve this case quickly, and did you feel that pressure? Also, how did it effect your work on the case, or the case in general?
A Being that the five suspects were arrested so quickly the pressure was not immediate. It was the task of making this case air tight so that the people of Rhode Island knew that the members of the Johnston Police Detective division were second to none. I sure there were doubters along the way as I know there were members of our own force that may have thought that we were out of our league so there was pressure to make sure everything was right so that in the end all doubter would not be pointing their fingers and saying "I told you so. The media presences and the public interest did not wane as with other cases. Thank god that is handled by the top brass and it left it to the ordinary workers to concentrate with their tasks. It was my first time for the feds coming in offering help and to me it was a great experience.
Q The five murder suspects were all taken into custody very quickly, virtually within 24 hours of the murder. To what do you attribute that swift action.
A Good police work. Everyone in the detective division knew that they were working on one of the biggest cases of their career. There were no ego trips with this being a total team effort. The channels of communications kept flowing which made it easier to pass on. On the hour Capt aRusso had meeting to keep it other abreast as to what was going on. Once the car was stopped that Floyd was driving various members took their turns trying to get Floyd to open up and when my Mike Petrucci and I took out turn it worked out. Floyd gave us what we needed to take the next step.
Q: Despite the speed with which the suspects were rounded up, and the immediate confessions volunteered by the four of them, the fifth suspect was not sentenced for his role in the crime until August 2004, over four years after the murders. Can you explain how this happened?
A: Floyd, Burdick and Anderson gave confessions and Sanchez did not. We showed them all that we had overwhelming evidence that if presented to a jury could possible result in them getting the death penalty. Floyd, Burdick and Sanchez plead out and received life with out parole. Anderson agreed to cooperate which resulted in him receiving twenty five years in Federal prison. Kenneth Day fought the charge saying that he was present but had nothing to do with the murder. Day proceeded to trial and half way into the case the Federal judge threw the case out saying that the government did not show that Kenneth Day had intent to murder the victims. It should be noted that while Day was incarcerated awaiting trial he was tried in State court on robbery charges and he was convicted of robbing teenagers in Providence at Waterplace Park. After Days' Federal charge was thrown out the State of Rhode Island formally charged Day with Murdering Jason and Amy. He was convicted and sentenced to life in the ACI.(Adult Correctional Institution)
Q: Have you ever been involved in writing any other books? Why did you chose to write a book about this case now?
A: I have never written another book. This story is one that had to be told, it shows that the justice system can work even if there are setbacks. The members of the Johnston Police showed that even after taking a punch they can stand their ground and right a wrong. It is my opinion that the Federal charge should have never been thrown out. I guess after this dismissal we could said let it go and been happy with putting four out of the five behind bars. But again it was not an ego thing it was doing what we were sworn to do. Fight for Justice.
Q: It's been over 7 years since this tragic double homicide. Has it had a lasting impact on your life or affected you in any profound way, either personally or professionally? So you look at things differently at all?
A: As I was fighting this case I was also fighting another demon. I was leaving my wife and ultimately got divorced. I didn't have the energy to fight. The homicide case totally consumed me. It was on mine constantly. I had people coming up to me on the streets, some total strangers asking questions about the case. I couldn't escape it. In the end it won and I lost. I finally sought out counseling and it has made a world of difference. This is the side of police life that I wish on nobody.
Q: This was a horrific crime. Two Innocent people abducted at gun point and driven to an isolated area and shot execution style. Is there some lesson that we can come away with? Is there anything that you can recommend that a person might do to prevent themselves from falling victim to such predators?
A: I feel that in todays society people have to be aware of their surroundings. If something doesn't feel right then go with your intuitions. I'm not saying that Jason or Amy did anything wrong. We should be able to do what we want without fear but we also have to practical in our actions.