Suicide may be cause of Las Vegas man’s death in Utah

Friday, Dec. 24, 1999 | 12:54 p.m.

But friends and co-workers of David Bourke find that difficult to believe.

Sgt. Von Steemblik of the Centerville, Utah, Police Department said that while investigators have not ruled out the possibility that Bourke, 36, was slain, preliminary indications are that the salesman fatally stabbed himself.

"The official cause of death is pending our investigation, but the medical examiner believes it is very possible the knife wound was self-inflicted given the angle of the wound and the way the knife was situated," Steemblik said.

Bourke, a man co-workers at Mitchell Framing Contractors Inc. in Las Vegas described as extremely friendly and outgoing, was last seen by his girlfriend at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, leaving his home to "get a pack of cigarettes," Steemblik said.

Nearly eight hours later, at 9:20 a.m., a passing motorist noticed a body in the median of I-15 in Davis County, Utah, just outside of Centerville. Police found Bourke dead, a knife sticking out of his chest.

Steemblik said that at 9 a.m., witnesses reported seeing Bourke driving "erratically" near where his body was found. There was no evidence of a struggle.

"We've ruled out robbery, kidnapping and road rage, and the witnesses who were driving behind him said there was no one else in the vehicle," Steemblik said.

Bourke's girlfriend told authorities they were not having any significant difficulties in the relationship.

Police also have not been able to pinpoint ownership of the knife used to kill Bourke.

"We haven't ruled out homicide just yet because it is so bizarre," Steemblik said. "Very few people kill themselves by stabbing, and why would he drive from Vegas to Centerville? That is what is so bizarre."