‘Rachel’s Army’ forged by trials

“Rachel’s Army” occupies a reserved second row in the courtroom.

There’s her father, his fiance, and his brothers and sisters. There’s her mother, and her mother’s friends.

Absorbing what happened to Rachel Burkheimer is a labor of love and endurance. Those closest to her have pulled Iron-man duty through countless court hearings and hours of testimony, much of it heartbreaking.

“It’s my total means of survival through this process,” said Bill Burkheimer, her father. “I honestly don’t know how I would do it if I was alone.”

He calls it Rachel’s Army. They come to Snohomish County Superior Court to give him support and seek justice for Rachel.

Rachel’s Army marches out of the courtroom only when the medical examiner takes the witness stand to give details on how the 18-year-old was shot and killed.

They also come for themselves.

“I have to come and witness,” said Robin Popich of Gig Harbor, one of Bill Burkheimer’s siblings. “I keep thinking she was so brave, so I have to be brave. I want the jury to see her through the family’s eyes.”

Brave or not, Popich and the others – Rachel’s uncles Don and Tom Burkheimer and aunt Barbara Hard – often dab away tears.

The family has sacrificed time and fortune to be in court on most days during the 20 months since Rachel was shot to death near Gold Bar. They’ve witnessed five people plead guilty to her abduction and death. Now they’re on the final murder trial.

Don Burkheimer has taken a leave of absence from his job. Tom Burkheimer has switched jobs to give him more time for court. Hard has flown from Buffalo, N.Y., for some parts of each trial.

“It’s been an incredibly huge financial hit for most of the family just to be able to spend the time as we are,” said Tom Burkheimer of Camano Island.

None wuld have it any other way.

“There’s absolutely no way I was not going to be there every single day, or as much as I could, for Rachel,” he said.

Don Burkheimer of Kingston, the youngest, always looked up to his bother Bill.

“Bill’s been a man from a very early age. He put his arms around me, helped me through some rough spots. We’ve been there for each other,” Don Burkheimer said.

Each of the trials has had a different effect on Rachel’s Army. The first was the trauma of hearing details of the killing for the first time. Then came anger when the shooter faced justice. Now there’s exhaustion, said Lori Pursley, Bill Burkheimer’s fiance and constant court companion.

Everyone in Rachel’s Army is looking to the end of the trials, wondering what then will happen to their energy and emotions. They don’t know what to expect.

Bill Burkheimer dreams constantly about court, and about his slain daughter. On Friday morning, he awoke with the memory of a dream that he was told to stay away from the trial for two days. He needed to rest. In his dream, Rachel’s Army wore disguises and tried to sneak into the courtroom.

He also dreamed he was composing “perfect” letters of appreciation to deputy prosecutor Michael Downs and the sheriff’s detectives who cracked the case.

His dreams about Rachel overlapped, as they often do.

“In one, Michael was saying to me, ‘Bill, it’s over,’” he said.

Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Two students walk along a path through campus Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. A group of nearly 20 community groups are planning to study how to make it easier for young people to find jobs. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Goal for Everett coalition: Make it easier for young people to find jobs

The organizations hope the months-long process will improve access to resources for young people.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.