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Burd Ford

November 10, 2009 by · Comments Off on Burd Ford 

bildeRichard A. Burd was found dead in the office of his Ford dealership this morning. His wife, Christine (right), went to the dealership when her husband had not returned home at 2 a.m. – MICS-EX-LLE PEMBERTON / 2005 Star file photo

bilde3Burd Ford closed today after owner Richard A. Burd was found dead in his office. The dealership is at 10300 Pendleton Pike in Lawrence. – KELLY WILKINSON / The Star

The owner of Burd Ford in Lawrence was found dead in his office this morning, apparently by suicide.

Richard A. Burd, 43, was found by his wife and police on a couch in his office at 2:40 a.m., according to a Lawrence police report.

Christine Burd, 40, had gone to the dealership at 10300 Pendleton Pike when Richard Burd hadn’t returned home. She said she left him at the office at 10 p.m. and grew concerned when she woke up at 2 a.m. and discovered he still hadn’t come home.

Burd went to the dealership, saw her husband’s car in the parking lot and called police before entering, according to the report.

Burd was found on the couch and appeared to have committed suicide. The report did not indicate why detectives believe it was a suicide.

The Burds are well known through their television commercials, with the tagline “Burd is the word.”

Lawrence mayor Paul Ricketts said Burd told him a week ago business was good.

“He said he had sold out his stock in was in the process of replenishing it,” Ricketts said.

Ricketts helped convince Burd to relocate his business in Lawrence two years ago from 38th Street and Arlington Avenue, and said he was involved in several civic activities, such as the city’s annual safety day.

“Everyone is saddened by this,” Ricketts said.

The Marion County Coroner’s office is expected to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Lawrence Police Det. Gary Woodruff said police would not reveal the cause of death until after the autopsy. He would not comment on whether a note was left or whether the busines was in financial trouble.

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