Detectives return with DNA sample from Jenner killings suspect

Matthew Hall
Staff Writer
Detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Violent
Crimes Investigations Unit have returned from New Mexico with
additional evidence related to the recent death of Joseph Henry
Burgess.
Burgess has been described as a “person of interest” in the
killings of Lindsay Cutshall, 22, and Jason Allen, 26, who were
shot to death in August of 2004 near Jenner Beach.
Burgess was killed on July 26 while was attempting to break into
a cabin in the Jemez Mountains. The cabin was under surveillance by
the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Department and Sergeant Joe Harris
was also killed in the gun battle.
Sonoma County detectives traveled to New Mexico and met with law
enforcement authorities there over the past week. According to a
written statement from the Sheriff’s Department, they have since
returned to Sonoma County and will be submitting evidence they
seized, including a DNA sample from Burgess, for analysis.
Any additional information learned from the investigation will
be posted on the Sheriff’s website in the coming weeks.