RED HOOK — State Police divers are conducting a grid search of Spring Lake in Dutchess County this week as part of a renewed investigation into the 1993 cold case murder of Brian Charles Burton.
State Police say 16 divers with the Underwater Recovery Team (URT) began combing the lake on Monday and are expected to continue through Wednesday.
The divers, aided by drones and advanced sonar, is searching for any objects that could help solve the decades-old homicide. “We’re looking for any and all items that could have been used or that are associated with the 1993 homicide of Brian Charles Burton,” said State Police Senior Investigator Matthew Radewitz.
“We just do not let go of cold cases. It’s one of our missions.”
Burton was found shot multiple times inside his vehicle near the lake in September 1993. Investigators say new forensic leads and state-of-the-art DNA testing reignited the case in recent months.
While authorities have not disclosed what specifically brought them to Spring Lake, Radewitz confirmed the renewed search was prompted by newly uncovered information.
“The crime had occurred in close proximity to this location, and we’re conducting a search based on new information that was presented to us,” he said. “There’s no threat to the public.”
Trooper Bryan Conti, Troop K’s small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) coordinator, said drones and geospatial technology are helping map each diver’s movement to ensure complete coverage of the lakebed. “We’re able to mark out exactly where every single dive is taking place with measurements from the online technology that we’re using,” he said. “If we find any evidence, we can pinpoint the exact location from a fixed point.”
The dive team’s sonar and metal detection equipment—unavailable when Burton was killed—are giving investigators tools they lacked more than three decades ago. “This technology should hopefully help us and assist us with our search efforts,” Radewitz said. “We’re not really looking for one specific item. We’re looking for anything that could help us bring closure to the family.”
Anyone with information about Burton’s murder is urged to contact the New York State Police at (845) 677-7300 or by email at [email protected]. Tips can be submitted confidentially.
