Slain Alabama University Student’s Family Seeks $1M Award

The parents of slain Auburn University student Lauren Burk are asking the Alabama Board of Adjustment to award them $1 million because they say Auburn did not provide adequate security.

Jim Burk and Viviane Guerchon told the board Tuesday that they believe Auburn University’s decision to merge its police force into the city of Auburn contributed to their daughter being kidnapped from a campus parking lot in 2008.

Former Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson told the board that the merger provided more officers on campus who were better trained. Dawson became emotional and said not a day goes by that he doesn’t think about Lauren Burk, but he doesn’t see where Auburn police could have done anything differently.

The four-member board will vote next month on whether to award money.