WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Kimon Burton-Roberson made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday for charges related to the kidnapping, resulting in death, of a Wilmington resident.
According to an indictment filed on February 22, 2022, in the early hours of July 21, 2021, Burton-Roberson, 28, and co-conspirators, entered a residence in Wilmington, Delaware where they knew their victim to be staying. Burton-Roberson and others beat the victim with a blunt object until the victim was bleeding, tying the victim’s hands together with zip ties. Burton-Roberson and others then removed the victim from the residence, placed the victim into Burton-Roberson’s car, and drove the victim across state lines into Pennsylvania. Members of the conspiracy shot the victim in the head, leaving the victim’s body in an industrial park in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
Burton-Roberson is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping and Kidnapping. If convicted, he faces life in prison or capital punishment. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This investigation is ongoing and involves close collaboration between FBI, the Yeadon Borough Police Department, and the Wilmington Department of Police.
“This case is an excellent example of federal and state law enforcement cooperation and coordination across geographical boundaries. This unified effort resulted in the Indictment of this case,” said U.S. Attorney Weiss. “Those who commit violent crime in Delaware, and elsewhere, will be brought to justice.”
Rohan K. Hepkins stated, “As Mayor of Yeadon Borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, we salute the combined efforts of the FBI, the Wilmington, DE Police Department, along with the Yeadon and Delaware County law enforcement agencies. This combined effort underscores our collective commitment to bring fugitives to justice. It reassures the public that those who commit crimes and seek to take refuge across state lines, will be sought out, and brought to justice as we were successfully able to do in this case.”
“The strong multi-jurisdictional collaborations that our agency has with our local, state and federal partners are critical, especially when criminal acts are committed across jurisdictional boundaries,” said Wilmington Police Chief Robert J. Tracy. “I am proud of the work of our investigators, and our partner law enforcement agencies, in bringing justice for the victim of this chilling crime.”
The brutality and indifference to human life displayed in this case is unacceptable,” said Thomas J. Sobocinski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “Know that the FBI and our partners will be relentless in our efforts to identify, locate and apprehend dangerous offenders who threaten the safety our communities.”
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.