Father who cut his own daughter’s throat after sexually torturing her sentenced to death

Joshua Burgess was convicted of first-degree murder, statutory rape, three statutory sex offenses and sexually exploiting a minor

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Joshua Lee Burgess is sentenced to death for murdering his daughter

A man has been sentenced to death for killing his own daughter after subjecting her to sexual torture for 22 hours.

Joshua Burgess, 35, strangled 15-year-old Zaria Burgess and cut her throat at his home in Monroe, North Carolina in August 2019.

Investigators say Burgess strangled his daughter before cutting her throat, though authorities have not yet given a motive for the murder.

A sheriff’s statement reported by Channel 9 said: “The defendant in this case, Joshua Burgess, is the essence of evil and stole Zaria from her friends, family and the local community.

“While we know that Zaria has passed on to us forever, we hope today’s verdict will help bring closure to Zaria’s family and friends and we will continue to keep her in our prayers every day.”

Zaria was found dead at her father’s home in August 2019, but according to the Union County District Attorney’s Office, Burgess slit his daughter’s throat after “psychologically and sexually torturing her for 22 hours at his home.”

“This was truly a particularly heinous, cruel and gruesome murder of an innocent child.

“This case was emotionally draining for everyone involved. We continue to mourn with Zaria’s mother and pray for her.”

Burgess was convicted of first-degree murder and one charge of statutory rape, three counts of statutory sex offenses and one charge of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

“For these offenses he received an additional at least nearly 76 years in prison,” the prosecutor’s office said.

Sheriff Eddie Cathey, quoted by The Sun, said: “Every officer and detective involved in this case is feeling the impact of what happened to this child.

“There is no logical answer as to why this man did what he is accused of doing.”

Burgess turned himself in to the police after the crime and told officers where to find Zaria’s body.

Zaria, who lived with her biological mother, was reportedly visiting her father over the weekend of her death.