Ronald Francis Burke, in an undated family photo, has been charged in the slaying of 29-year-old Tamara Dunstan. Special

Who is Ronald Francis Burke?

It was just four years ago that the man now charged in the slaying of Tamara Dunstan escorted her younger sister to the Augusta Symphony Guild cotillion.

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Ronald Francis Burke escorted Meredith Faye Cundey to the event along with her father, Dr. David Cundey, who presented her, according to the Jan. 2, 2000, edition of The Augusta Chronicle.

Bill Quinn, Mr. Burke's uncle, confirmed that his nephew knew the Cundey family and that a member of Mr. Burke's family even attended a vigil Saturday night for Mrs. Dunstan.

"Our family was friends with her family," he said, adding that Mr. Burke was familiar with the neighborhood where Mrs. Dunstan's mother lives.

Mr. Quinn said he found it hard to believe that his nephew was being charged in the case and that Mr. Burke's parents were distraught over the arrest.

Mr. Burke, a 1997 graduate of Aquinas High School, was known at that time as a soccer player. Gina Marie Capozzoli, of Hephzibah, who attended Aquinas High School with Mr. Burke, said she remembered Mr. Burke as a soccer player during his freshman year at Aquinas and as a member of the Augusta Arsenal.

"He wasn't our best, but he'd play every game," she said. "He wasn't a bench warmer."

Mr. Burke's uncle said he was just six months away from graduating from Augusta State University with a business administration degree, taking on various jobs to help pay for his schooling.

Mr. Burke also was known to frequent a West Augusta tavern, being seen at Surrey Tavern on Highland Avenue the night before Mrs. Dunstan's abduction, drinking heavily until the bar closed at 2 a.m., said Matthew Widener, a manager at the establishment.

"I don't think he was well liked by many people, and he could be annoying at times," Mr. Widener said.

He said Mr. Burke was a frequent customer of the bar and often drank Crown Royal, bourbon and Coors Light beer.

Mr. Quinn, however, said his nephew "is a good kid" and said he had a bright future ahead of him.

"And something like this turns up," he said. "It's totally devastating."

Staff writers Dena Levitz, Jim Nesbitt and Timothy Cox contributed to this article.

Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 828-3904 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.

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• Burke asks for attorney at Tamara Dunstan slaying hearing
• Woman's body is found
• Service becomes 'rally of tears'
• Heavily-wooded area yields shallow grave
• Who is Ronald Francis Burke?
• Family hopes public can help
• Woman is selfless, friends say
• Family, friends gather for vigil
• Family of missing woman releases statement
• Family members call on abductors to safely return missing 29-year-old
• Police search for pregnant Augusta woman

--From the Monday, April 19, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle