Austin T. Burke is Factually Innocent

07/23/2026

A LITTLE TRUTH WRAPPED IN A LOT OF LIES IS STILL MISINFORMATION.

Let’s clear up a few things.

I have never spoken to this man in my life. We have only exchanged written messages—and those began when I confronted him about spreading stories he could not possibly know firsthand, and being associated with the Roupes.

According to Austin, this man has been seen hanging out with Roupes. Now, Rickey and Mariah are posting that I “don’t know what’s coming,” and he suddenly appears online repeating their narrative. People can draw their own conclusions about that timing.

Here are the facts:

• Austin was never Ruben Melendez’s cellmate. They lived on separate ranges in a high-security prison.

• Prisoners from separate ranges are not released into the common area together—especially while officers are secured inside the control bubble.

• Austin was preparing for a transfer to a lower-security institution when the incident occurred. Similar disruptions have repeatedly happened before his expected transfers.

• Austin was not showing anyone autopsy photographs in jail, or disrespected Brandons memory. The coroner testified that the autopsy photographs had disappeared. This testimony can be read in the trial transcripts available on our website.

• People who genuinely knew Austin remember someone who treated others well. He was elected prom king and was described as well-liked by Brandon Sample in video'ed interviews given by Josh White and Taylor Dunn to investigators.

Yet people continue crawling out of the woodwork claiming they “knew Austin,” while neither Austin nor our family has ever heard of them.

The information being repeated appears to trace back to people with personal grudges—including Brittany Mertin’s former husband, who developed hostility toward Austin because of her support for him. That is not firsthand knowledge. That is gossip traveling through people who already chose a side.

It is easy to accuse someone who is locked away and cannot immediately answer every lie. But attaching yourself to the Roupes’ misinformation campaign will not strengthen anyone’s credibility.

It will destroy it—especially when the new evidence is released.

You cannot build credibility by borrowing stories from people whose own stories keep changing.

07/17/2026

Joshua White called himself Brandon Sample’s “best friend.”

But from the very beginning, Josh White had red flags all over him.

He lied about something he did not even need to lie about. He claimed he did not pick Austin up that night — when he did. That stood out to both Austin and me immediately.

Why lie about a simple ride unless there was something bigger he was trying to hide?

Then came the suspicious wounds — and the explanations that kept changing. Later, we learned his story about calling his younger brother to be let into the house did not match the phone records.

Lies. Changing stories. Suspicious injuries. A timeline that did not add up.

And somehow, this man was treated like a credible witness.

Now look at what has surfaced since Brandon’s death.

At least three restraining orders. One involved a thirteen-year-old girl and allegations that he locked her in a room and forced himself on her. He has now been indicted and arrested for felony strangulation and domestic violence.

We have also uncovered warrants in other states tied to an individual with his same name, which we are actively investigating.

Multiple people have described the same pattern: charming at first, then violent, manipulative, and willing to use people for cars, money, shelter, and whatever else he could take.

People have called him a compulsive liar. People have said they never saw the monster coming.

And now the mugshot says what too many people were ignored for saying out loud.

This is not just about what Josh White is accused of now.

It is about why the warning signs were ignored back then.

It is about why a man with this many red flags was handled like a trustworthy witness in Brandon Sample’s case instead of being investigated like the serious suspect he should have been.

It is also about how the Warren Police Department and Trumbull County prosecutors failed the public time and time again by allowing dangerous individuals to remain on the streets.

There are people sleeping easier tonight knowing he is finally off the streets.

But the bigger question remains:

How many lives were damaged because the wrong people chose to believe him?

One thing I know for certain is that Austin was not ever involved in these crimes. I also know that we cannot exclude Josh White, and that this was not a one-man job.

We have more evidence to reveal, but we have to wait until the appeal is filed.

05/22/2026

2 people have unexplained injuries consistent with a crime, 1 person has 6 month old teardrop tattoos on his face. Which one(s) do you look at for a fresh murder?

When the evidence starts to point away from somebody, you don't just toss it in the trash and pile up circumstances to trick a jury. You dig for more evidence of everyone involved, and see where it leads you.........

03/18/2026

There is a new podcast based on the book about my son's case. The author of the book, Donna Waters, spearheaded this project. There is also a page "Wrong Ride Home by: Donna Waters" - Please check it out!!!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4RwEiGf8P2l8HSN6RMcClL?si=Zwj6Y3w-SwCBv5lEjJTXUw&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A5BRAAZhTBqqocvW3eXonaM

Wrong Ride Home: Beyond the Book · Episode