Victim’s wounds described in court

Any one of the three bullets to the back of Rachel Burkheimer’s head would have killed her within seconds or minutes, the Snohomish County medical examiner testified Friday.

Three other wounds, two to her upper back and one to her side, were serious and would have needed quick medical attention, Dr. Norman Thiersch told a Superior Court jury.

Burkheimer, 18, of Marysville was found face down in a grave with her arms folded in front of her in September 2002.

The man accused of pulling the trigger sat in the courtroom, turning down an opportunity to view photographs Thiersch took of the injuries to Burkheimer.

The jury sat quietly watching more than a dozen photos that showed the wounds.

Witnesses have identified defendant John Phillip Anderson, 22, of Everett as the one who shot the woman after ordering a grave to be dug. Anderson was Burkheimer’s ex-boyfriend.

Prosecutors allege that Anderson was one of the top members of a gang of thieves and drug dealers who became suspicious that Burkheimer was giving information about them to rivals. They also allege that Anderson was jealous when she started dating another man.

Anderson is charged with aggravated first-degree murder, which carries a term of life in prison if he is convicted.

His trial enters its fourth week on Monday, and lawyers expect the jury to begin deliberations after a few more days of testimony and argument.

Deputy prosecutors Michael Downes and Julie Mohr went through some of the nuts and bolts of their case Friday. Besides the medical examiner, jurors heard from a Washington State Patrol crime lab forensic scientist, who linked a pistol found in a pond in Lynnwood to Burkheimer’s killing.

Bullets and bullet fragments found in her body and in the dirt at her grave site near Gold Bar came from the same gun, lab scientist Richard Wyant testified. Others testified that the 9mm pistol was the gun used by Anderson in the killing, and he ordered the others to get rid of it.

Wyant said it was a poor-quality pistol that misfired several times when tested. That supports earlier testimony that Anderson’s shooting of Burkheimer was interrupted briefly when the gun jammed.

In other testimony, a deputy sheriff, Tom Percy, gave jurors a glimpse of how Anderson was captured. Percy, a member of the sheriff’s emergency response team, said he was called early Oct. 6, 2002, to a house in the 14800 block of Manor Way in Lynnwood.

He said deputies were executing a search warrant for Anderson, and eventually used a heavy dose of pepper spray to force him from his hiding place in the attic.

After the attic was flooded with the spray, Anderson finally responded to police by knocking.

“Then I heard a male voice say, ‘I’m up here, you fools,’” Percy testified.

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.

Riley Boyd, 6, left, and sisters Vivienne Boyd, 3, ride a sled together down a hill at Anderson Center Field on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County shouldn’t expect snow and cold to leave any time soon

Residents can expect a reprieve from the snow until possibly this weekend. Colder than normal temperatures are expected to remain into next week.

Modern DNA tech comes through again for Everett police in 1989 murder case

Recent advances in forensic genealogy led to the suspect’s arrest in Clark County, Nevada.

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.