Suspect Arrested in Brutal Auburn Murder

Courtney Lockhart of Smiths Alabama was arrested in the brutal killing of Lauren Burk, an Auburn University freshman, who died this week. Lockhart has been charged with capital murder during a kidnapping, capital murder during a robbery, and capital murder during an attempted rape, according to sources.

Lockhart was taken into custody in Phenix City, about 35 southeast of Auburn.

Ms Burk, 18 years old, from Marietta, Ga was found only a few miles north of the campus on Tuesday night, still alive, but died later at the hospital.

Moments after police arrived on the scene of an "reportedly injured person", her car was found, on fire...in a campus parking lot.

Minutes after police responded to the call reporting an injured person and found Burk, they found a car -- which turned out to be Burk's -- on fire in a campus parking lot.

According to Auburn University's website, a campus wide memorial service will be held on Monday.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the Burk family on this horrendous, senseless tragedy.

A message from Burke's father is on the university website which reads:
"The Burk family was so proud to have Lauren as an Auburn University student. We want to extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation for Auburn University, the city of Auburn and the Auburn Police Department. We feel very close to your community. We appreciate what everyone is doing for us and Lauren."

Burke's family released a statement Friday to reporters by a family friend, expressing their gratitude for the thoughts and prayers offered, and requested privacy "so that they may grieve for their loss as well as celebrate their daughter's life".

Donations in Lauren's memory can be made to "The Invisible Child and American Kidney Foundation" at any Wachovia branch to the Lauren Burk Memorial Fund.

Source: Photo, courtesy of AP/Auburn Police Dept