A 36-year-old Boardman man is facing a murder charge after he walked into a hospital covered in blood early Friday and told staff he was responsible for a death at a home in Austintown, where officers then found a 71-year-old man dead inside. Mark Burley arrived at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital around 2:30 a.m. and reported what had happened, triggering a police response that ended with the discovery of a body on the 5800 block of Yorktown Lane.
Burley was covered in blood when he showed up at the hospital and told staff he was responsible for a death at the Yorktown Lane address, according to an Austintown police report cited by The Vindicator. Hospital staff alerted authorities, and Austintown police went to the home, where they found the 71-year-old man dead inside, the same report states. Burley was taken into custody at the hospital, according to WKBN, which also reported that police had conducted a welfare check at the family residence after receiving the initial report.
According to the Mahoning County Auditor's website, the Yorktown Lane home is owned by John P. and Barbara Burley. Mahoning County voter registration records show John Patrick Burley was born in 1954, which would make him 71 or 72 years old. The Vindicator reported it was unable to independently confirm that the man found dead was Mark Burley's father, even though local media and social media accounts have described him as such. WFMJ similarly reported that while the victim's identity remains unclear, information from the Mahoning County Auditor's Office indicates Burley previously lived at the home where the body was found.
Charges and Custody
Burley is charged with one count of murder, a first-degree felony, according to The Vindicator. WKBN reported that a charge of aggravated murder had been filed against Burley in Mahoning County Area Court. He remains in custody at the Mahoning County Jail. The method of death had not been released, but WKBN reported that Burley said he had murdered his father; The Vindicator said it could not independently confirm the victim was Burley’s father.
Under Ohio law, a conviction for aggravated murder carries penalties set out separately in the state's sentencing statute. Ohio Revised Code Section 2903.01 states that a person who violates the section is guilty of aggravated murder and shall be punished under Section 2929.02 of the Revised Code.
Court Appearance Set for Next Week
Burley is scheduled to make an initial appearance before Austintown Area Court Judge Scott Hunter, with his appearance set for next Wednesday, per The Vindicator. WFMJ reported that Burley would be arraigned via video. Mahoning County Area Court No. 4 handles misdemeanor criminal and traffic charges, small claims, civil complaints, and initial appearances on felony charges, among other matters.
No further details about the circumstances of the death, a case number, or any statement from a prosecutor or defense attorney have been released. The victim's name had not been made public as of the latest reporting.
