Suspect Confesses To Student Murder

The man charged with capital murder in the killing of Auburn University student Lauren Burk last week appeared in court today.

According to a confession read in court, 23-year-old Courtney Lockhart told authorities he abducted Burk on campus, robbed her and forced her to disrobe before he shot her.

A hearing was held for Lockhart in Lee County circuit court at the same time that several thousand Auburn students gathered on campus at a memorial service for Burk. The 18-year-old freshman from Marietta, Georgia, was killed last Tuesday night.

Burk lived in an apartment complex near the campus. She was found on a roadside about five miles from the university and her car was found later burning in a campus parking lot.

Lockhart who lives in rural Smiths in Russell County. He was arrested by police in Phenix City on Friday after a chase. According to the affidavit, Lockhart was in possession of a pistol that has been linked to the murder when he was arrested.

On Monday afternoon Auburn University held a campus-wide memorial service to honor the slain freshman.

The gathering included Auburn University President Jay Gogue and the President of Burk's Delta Gamma sorority, Alison Penuel.

The campus-wide memorial service was held at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum on the Auburn University campus.