California psychiatrist found bludgeoned to death in trunk of car near Las Vegas
Kate Cimini
SALINAS, Calif. – A California psychiatrist was found bludgeoned to death in Nevada, his body left in the trunk of a car, the Las Vegas Review-Journal and other media sources reported Friday.
The body of Dr. Thomas Burchard, 71, of Salinas was found by officers about 10:50 a.m. March 7 near the entrance to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, according to several media outlets.
Burchard died from blunt force trauma to the head, and his death was ruled a homicide, authorities said.
A man driving through the remote area with his children noticed a parked vehicle that had a rock thrown through one of its windows. Officers responded and found Burchard's body inside the car, the Review-Journal said.
The Las Vegas Coroner's Office, Las Vegas Police Department and Clark County Sheriff's Office were not available for comment Saturday.
Community Health of the Monterey Peninsula spokeswoman Mary Barker confirmed the death of Burchard.
"He’s a long-standing physician in the community who was very helpful to many of his patients," said Barker. "It was a sad situation and our hearts go out to his family."
According to Barker, Burchard worked for manyyears with the behavioral health program with Montage Health. He had a small number of adolescent patients and a larger number of adult patients.
