Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw announced that a Palmyra man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for fatally shooting his former girlfriend three years ago in the parking lot of a Palmyra self-service car wash.
The sentence was handed down October 10 in Superior Court in Mercer County to Antonio Burke by the Hon. Amber J. Gibbs, J.S.C. Burke, 38, pled guilty last month to Aggravated Manslaughter (First Degree).
The investigation began after officers from the Palmyra Police Department were called to the Hot Wet & Wax car wash on Filmore Avenue at approximately 10:45 p.m. on April 18, 2022, for a report of an unconscious female who was bleeding.
Upon arrival, they discovered the body of Alicia Stilley, 28, of Cinnaminson, on the ground near her vehicle. An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood concluded that Stilley died from a gunshot wound to the thorax.
Burke was taken into custody a week later at a residence in Dallas, Texas.
The investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Palmyra Police Department. The lead investigators were BCPO Detective Jenn Marchese, BCPO Detective Sergeant Melyssa Alonso, and Palmyra Detective Shawn Benedict. Assistance with the search for Burke was provided by the Burlington County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Unit.
Burke was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Robert S. Van Gilst, supervisor of the BCPO Major Crimes Unit.