03/29/2024
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A judge Wednesday agreed with the findings of a mental health evaluation and ruled that Marquail Allen Burney is not competent to stand trial on a first-degree murder charge in the death of his father’s fiancee. The ruling by Superior Court Judge D. Jack Hooks came during a hearing in Bladen County Superior Court.

Burney, 21, was charged in October with killing Crystal Dionne Cruz at the home on N.C. 41 West they shared with David Burney, who is Marquail Burney’s father.

Burney is expected to be sent to a state psychiatric hospital for treatment. He could stand trial at a later date if its determined he is competent to do so.

According to Bladen County Sheriff James McVicker, officers were called to the residence of David Burney about 11:37 p.m. on Oct. 13 after David Burney reported Cruz missing. David Burney told investigators that he had arrived home from work and thought Cruz was asleep in the bedroom. When he went to check, he noticed she was missing.

David Burney told investigators that Marquail had left the residence on foot after David Burney questioned him about Cruz’s disappearance, McVicker said.

After a search near the residence, Cruz’s body was found in a vehicle in the backyard, McVicker said.

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