Boyfriend says killing spurred by heroin and AIDS scare

Murder suspect Corey Burnam told police he killed his girlfriend Friday night as the two used heroin together and she told him she had given him the AIDS virus, according to court documents.

Spokane Valley Police found a bloody scene at 609 S. Howe Road, where Burnam is accused of stabbing 29-year-old Alicia C. Sweet several times in the throat and bludgeoning her head with the barrel of a 12-gauge shotgun.

An officer loosed his police dog after Burnam fled and hid beneath a nearby trailer. The dog, named Gunnar, bit Burnam on the right arm and officers then arrested him and sent him to a hospital.

Burnam and Sweet were living together as guests of another couple in the home. One of the residents heard thumping noises from the bedroom shared by Burnam and Sweet and then saw Burnam walk out with a knife and bloody clothing, according to court documents.

Burnam told police Sweet became angry with him when he used the last of their heroin. He said Sweet punched him in the eye and came after him with the knife, according to court documents. He told officers that Sweet had told him days earlier that she had AIDS and infected him, too, telling officers: “You guys don’t understand, (she) tried to do me in.”

Burnam was booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder.