Alabama man sentenced to life in murder of pregnant LaGrange woman

Nicole Sanders
·2 min read
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TROUP COUNTY, Ga. (WRBL) — An east Alabama man was sentenced to life in prison in connection to the stabbing murder of a pregnant woman in LaGrange, according to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

The District Attorney’s Office says Curteze Avery, 30, of Lafayette, pled guilty to the murder of Breanna Burgess, 26, of LaGrange, in 2022. Burgess was 20 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.

Avery was indicted on Oct. 6, 2022, on charges of malice murder and feticide. On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, Superior Court Judge Erica Tisinger sentenced Avery to two concurrent life sentences.

This case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney David McLaughlin. Investigation led by LaGrange Police Department Detective Charles Brown revealed the following:

Early morning July 27, 2022, Burgess was found dead near Fort Drive and Whitesville Road in LaGrange.

Burgess had been stabbed in the throat at least 14 times. She, along with her unborn child, were pronounced dead on the scene.

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Cell phone records led the LaGrange Police Department to a friend of Burgess who was with her shortly before the murders. This friend told officers the last time she saw Burgess, she was with Avery in a neon green Chevrolet Camaro.

Traffic cameras in LaGrange helped investigators track the Camaro from the scene before and after the murders. The Camaro was found at a home in LaGrange a few hours after the murders. There was blood on the outside of the car.

A search warrant was obtained for the car and home. Avery was then found hiding inside the house.

Upon searching the car, officials found blood inside. There was also blood found inside the home, as well as blood-stained clothes in the washing machine and dryer.

The blood underwent a DNA analysis. Burgess was found to be the match.

Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office had this to say on Burgess’ murder.

“Curteze Avery cut short the life Breanna Burgess and her unborn child. For this, it is just that he is now sentenced to serve Life in prison,” said the office. “While the family of Ms. Burgess will never fully heal from this senseless crime, the District Attorney’s Office is relieved to have obtained a Life sentence without the family experiencing the difficulty and uncertainty of a jury trial.”

In accordance with Georgia law, Avery will be eligible to seek parole in 2052. However, the parole board will be authorized to reject this request.

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