A 66-year-old Mississippi man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy he met online. David Patrick Burkart was sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus 15 years, with no possibility of parole, for two counts of sexual battery and one count of touching a child for lustful purposes. Court testimony established that Burkart met the victim online and arranged to meet at the boy’s Gulfport home, where the abuse took place in the back seat of a car parked outside.
The case broke open because the victim’s grandmother was watching. She saw the sexual acts through the car, confronted Burkart when he opened the doors, photographed him with his pants unzipped, and called police. Forensic testing later found the victim’s seminal fluid on the car’s backseat, corroborating the boy’s account. The victim testified that he told Burkart his real age when Burkart arrived at the house.
Prosecutors called the case a stark reminder of how easily predators use social media and the internet to reach children. For families across the Suncoast, the takeaway is practical: know who your kids and grandkids are talking to online, and never hesitate to call law enforcement if something feels wrong. What conversations have you had with your family about online safety? Let us know on our social pages.
