Communication Breakdown Allowed Alleged Serial Killer To Go Free

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office says phone records from the county jail prove that they never received a phone call from a probation officer asking them not to release a man who would go on to commit a string of slayings.

Patrick Burris was arrested in Lincolnton on June 12 when his probation officer cited him for driving with a revoked license. That probation officer told her superiors that she called the Lincoln County Jail hours later and asked them to hold onto Burris until she could get a warrant for violating his probation -- a warrant that would have sent him back to prison.

Several weeks after he was released, police say Burris went on a rampage killing five people in Gaffney, S.C.

But on Monday, the sheriff's department showed Eyewitness News the log of incoming calls to the jail for the entire day of June 12, and they say they don't show any calls from that probation officer.

"Her number never shows up," said spokesman Jon Mayhew.

Mayhew said officers would have held Burris in jail until that probation officer could serve her warrant. The North Carolina Department of Corrections said the officer had that warrant by 4 p.m. on June 12, but never served it, and Burris posted bond six hours later and was released.

The Department of Corrections said they are continuing their investigation in the case.

Police in Gaston County shot and killed Burris after a burglary call early on July 6.

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