Background: Julius Burkes Jr. appears in court on Feb. 11 (WGN). Inset: Courtney Drysdale (Jensen Memorial Chapel and Cremation Society).
A tragic incident involving the fatal shooting of an Illinois bar owner has revealed a chilling connection between the victim and her alleged killer. The accused, Julius Burkes Jr., 47, appeared in a Kankakee County courtroom on Wednesday, facing charges for the murder of 30-year-old Courtney Drysdale. During the session, local affiliate WGN reported that prosecutors disclosed Burkes and Drysdale had once been colleagues at the very establishment she later owned.
According to prosecutors, in 2019, when the bar was under different management, Drysdale had reported to the former owner that Burkes was embezzling funds, leading to his dismissal from the job. Fast forward to about six years later, Burkes allegedly traversed state lines to return to the bar, now called The Line and owned by Drysdale, with the intent to commit robbery and murder. First Assistant State’s Attorney Carol Costello emphasized, “He planned it out.”
As previously covered by Law&Crime, Burkes was apprehended at his residence in Hammond, Indiana, just across the state border, on February 3. This arrest came a day after Drysdale was discovered dead at The Line in Momence, Illinois. Investigators released surveillance footage from the bar dated February 2, which prompted numerous tips leading to Burkes’ arrest.
Authorities stated that the footage depicted Burkes wielding a firearm and demanding money from the cash register before executing Drysdale in a brutal manner. During Wednesday’s court proceedings, Costello provided further insights into this footage. She explained that a mere seven minutes after Drysdale opened the bar at 11 a.m., Burkes entered the premises and aimed a gun at her.
Costello detailed, “Burkes then ordered Courtney around the bar’s interior for several minutes, taking items from the cash register and office area. He appeared to instruct Courtney to sit on the floor behind the bar.”
“[Burkes] then orders Courtney around the interior of the bar for several minutes, removing items from the cash register and office area. The defendant appears to order Courtney to sit on the floor behind the bar.”
Costello continued, “At 11:13 a.m., the defendant then shoots Courtney one time in her head, execution style, and you see her body collapse to the floor.” She said Burkes started to leave, but “15 seconds later, walks back towards her, reaches over the bar, and again, execution style, shoots her a second time in her head.” Burkes then left the bar, got into his white BMW, and drove away.
About an hour after allegedly murdering Drysdale, Costello said investigators found a bank receipt for a $751 deposit into a bank in Hammond, Indiana, where Burkes lives. They were also able to track his phone as he traveled back and forth between Hammond and Momence.
According to Costello, Burkes’ current girlfriend identified him in the surveillance footage. His ex-girlfriend confirmed the car in the video was the one she had sold to him.
Burkes was charged with three counts of murder, armed robbery, and felony possession of a firearm. He is being held at the Jerome Combs Detention Center without bond.
WGN reported that Drysdale’s family and friends, who attended the hearing a day after Drysdale’s funeral, started a GoFundMe for her surviving daughter, who is now living with her aunt and uncle. Drysdale was engaged to be married at the time of her death.
