62-year-old woman, 3-year-old grandchild found slain in southwest Birmingham home

By Carol Robinson

A woman and her 3-year-old grandchild were found slain in their southwest Birmingham home.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victims Monday as Cynthia Delane Burt, 62, and Desmond Burt. Jr.

Birmingham police were dispatched at 5:12 p.m. Sunday to a residence at 4909 Hillman Drive on a welfare check. When officers arrived, they were met by concerned family members, said Sgt. Rod Mauldin.

Police and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service made forced entry into the home. Inside they discovered Burt and the 3-year-old boy unresponsive in a back room.

Both were pronounced dead on the scene at 6:38 p.m.

“The injuries sustained are what we believe to be consistent with a homicide,’’ Mauldin said.

He said blunt force trauma appears to have been involved. Autopsies will determine the official cause of death.

One person is being questioned, Mauldin said.

The victims are Birmingham’s 33rd and 34th homicides this year. Of those, three have been ruled justifiable and therefore aren’t deemed criminal.

In Jefferson County, there have been 43 homicides, including the 34 in Birmingham.

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

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