Jeanine Dorsey Burton (died February 1982)

Man kills estranged wife and son; then shoots self EUNICE, La. (AP) - A man smashed an ax through the door of his estranged wife's home as she desperately telephoned for help and killed her and their son before shooting himself to death, police said Saturday. Investigators said Jeanine Burton telephoned police as her husband, Odess Burton Jr., 40, shattered the glass door about 11:30 p.m. Friday. "The woman was pleading and screaming," said Assistant Chief Donald Smith. "She didn't give a name or address, she was just begging for help. We heard another voice say 'Nobody can help you now,' and the phone went dead." Smith said Burton's 17- year-old son, Shayne, grabbed a .22-caliber pistol as his father barged into the house and shot Burton in the stomach with the gun's only bullet. Burton then emptied his .375-magnum pistol, Smith said, shooting his son three times and his wife twice. Smith said Shayne was shot while attempting to reload his automatic .22 one bullet at a time. "Apparently he didn't know how to use the gun," the officer said. Smith said neighbors called police after seeing Burton walk from the house with his pistol stuck through his belt. Burton returned to his apartment, reloaded and fired the gun into the roof of his mouth moments before police arrived, Smith said. Smith said Burton was a former mental patient who was being treated for depression. He said Burton had been arrested previously for threatening his wife.