Friends of accused murderer Nicholas Burg question charges

Village News Staff

Editor's note: Private Investigator Tony Campbell with AC Investigations is assisting Village News with its in-depth probe of this story.

Friends close to Nicholas Burg, who was arrested on July 16 for the murder of Robert Pierce, 56, believe he is innocent and the real killer may still be on the loose.

Nicholas Burg advocates point out that while he has priors for DUI and theft of vehicles, he has no violent priors and in their mind it is highly unlikely that he would commit violence against another human being.

"If anything, he was self-harming," said one anonymous source who spoke to Village News on the condition of anonymity out of fear for their own safety.

Pierce's body was found buried on Burg's parents property on July 14. According to the San Diego Sheriff's Department, Pierce was likely killed July 12 or 13.

Court records show Pierce's cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. CBS Investigative Producer David Gotfredson reported that during the motion filed by Jill Kovaly, Burg's public defender, that a baseball bat was found underneath Burg's bed with the victim's blood on the bat and that the DNA could link Nick Burg to the crime.

Burg supporters believe that the baseball bat was planted under the bed by someone else.

While yet unconfirmed, the VIllage News has also learned that the murder may not have taken place on the property, but rather elsewhere with the body being moved to the property after the killing.

Kovaly has requested a continuance for the preliminary hearing until she can review the evidence against Burg.

Burg remains in custody and is not eligible for release, according to San Diego County jail records. In addition to the murder charge, he is facing felony charges of vehicle theft and possession of a stolen vehicle.

San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Thomas Seiver in the Homicide Division said, "This case is being actively prosecuted with the District Attorney's Office. We defer all questions to them." Public Defender Jill Kovaly's office was contacted for comment, but as of press time was not available.

Anyone with any information regarding this investigation should contact the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Homicide Division at (858) 285-6330.