Man confesses, pleads guilty to Otter Tail murder

By Jacob Tellers /Fergus Falls Daily Journal A man on trial for the murder of his nephew confessed to the killing and pleaded guilty Thursday. Michael Alan Burris was accused of murdering Scott Burris, who died from a single gunshot wound in May 2012 in Otter Tail County. He pleaded guilty during the third day of his trial Thursday to second-degree unintentional murder. According to Assistant County Attorney Michelle Eldien, Michael Alan Burris admitted to shooting his nephew in the head following an argument in M.A. Burris’ garage. “He did plead guilty today to shooting Scott in the head,” Eldien said. “They were in an argument in the garage in the house. Scott had come over and they argued. There was a gun at some point in the argument. Scott may have had it at some times and he put it down and the defendant said he picked his gun up and shot Scott in the head. Those are the words from today.” His son, Michael Kyle Burris, admitted to helping his father dispose of his cousin’s body in May 2012. The 24-year-old Burris pleaded guilty in August to aiding an offender-accomplice after the fact of murder. The plea deal came out of the blue, according to Eldien. “I had no idea it was coming,” she said. After taking one-and-a-half days to select a jury, five witnesses took the stand Wednesday afternoon. The fifth witness, Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Sgt. Keith VanDyke, was scheduled to continue his testimony Thursday morning. There had been no indication that a plea deal would be reached once the trial had started, Eldien said, but she is satisfied with the agreement, saying that it provides closure to everyone involved. “It is really hard to put the words into it,” Eldien said about the abrupt end to the trial. “It’s a good result. I would say it’s an appropriate result. It’s closure for everyone. It was a long ordeal for years. I think it is very appropriate and a good result considering that the kid (Michael Kyle Burris) was going to have to come in and testify against his father. So Michael Kyle Burris is not in a situation where he would have to testify against his father, which I think was beneficial.” Before accepting the plea deal, Eldien said she consulted the victim’s family. Sentencing for Michael Alan Burris has been set for 3 p.m. Dec. 19. He faces at least a decade in prison.
By Jacob Tellers /Fergus Falls Daily JournalA man on trial for the murder of his nephew confessed to the killing and pleaded guilty Thursday.Michael Alan Burris was accused of murdering Scott Burris, who died from a single gunshot wound in May 2012 in Otter Tail County. He pleaded guilty during the third day of his trial Thursday to second-degree unintentional murder.According to Assistant County Attorney Michelle Eldien, Michael Alan Burris admitted to shooting his nephew in the head following an argument in M.A. Burris’ garage.“He did plead guilty today to shooting Scott in the head,” Eldien said. “They were in an argument in the garage in the house. Scott had come over and they argued. There was a gun at some point in the argument. Scott may have had it at some times and he put it down and the defendant said he picked his gun up and shot Scott in the head. Those are the words from today.”His son, Michael Kyle Burris, admitted to helping his father dispose of his cousin’s body in May 2012. The 24-year-old Burris pleaded guilty in August to aiding an offender-accomplice after the fact of murder.The plea deal came out of the blue, according to Eldien.“I had no idea it was coming,” she said.After taking one-and-a-half days to select a jury, five witnesses took the stand Wednesday afternoon. The fifth witness, Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Sgt. Keith VanDyke, was scheduled to continue his testimony Thursday morning.There had been no indication that a plea deal would be reached once the trial had started, Eldien said, but she is satisfied with the agreement, saying that it provides closure to everyone involved.“It is really hard to put the words into it,” Eldien said about the abrupt end to the trial. “It’s a good result. I would say it’s an appropriate result. It’s closure for everyone. It was a long ordeal for years. I think it is very appropriate and a good result considering that the kid (Michael Kyle Burris) was going to have to come in and testify against his father. So Michael Kyle Burris is not in a situation where he would have to testify against his father, which I think was beneficial.”Before accepting the plea deal, Eldien said she consulted the victim’s family.Sentencing for Michael Alan Burris has been set for 3 p.m. Dec. 19. He faces at least a decade in prison.