The disappearance of 25-year-old Canadian actress Shannon Burgess in November 2014 first looked like a mystery, but it soon turned into a heartbreaking story of betrayal and murder.
Her husband, Joshua Burgess, initially played the role of a supportive partner. Months later, however, he confessed to killing her and burying her body in their front yard.
Shannon’s Disappearance
Shannon was last seen alive on November 27, 2014. Just days later, her family grew worried when she missed a dinner with her brother. Her car and personal items were still at her Calgary home, but she had vanished.
Joshua told police that Shannon often traveled for auditions, so he wasn’t alarmed. In 2014, she had been working on short films like Scared Stiff and Ascension. At first, Joshua even received praise from Shannon’s family for supporting her acting dreams.
Trouble in Their Marriage
Behind the scenes, Shannon and Joshua were in an open marriage. Shannon had a boyfriend, Ian Wallace, while Joshua was dating another woman. According to investigators, Shannon wanted to close the marriage and commit fully to Joshua. But he continued his relationship with the other woman, leading to arguments.
This tension only deepened suspicion when Shannon vanished.
Signs of Something Wrong
Police and Shannon’s family found Joshua’s behavior odd. He claimed to have discovered her phone in her pants days after she disappeared, even though it had been buzzing constantly with calls and messages.
Phone records also showed activity near their home on November 28, a day after Shannon was last seen, raising more questions.
The Shocking Confession
On July 8, 2015, police showed up at the Burgess home with a search warrant for their cars and phones. At first, Joshua stalled. Minutes later, he broke down, sobbing to Detective Christina Witt: “I killed my wife.”
When he came out of the house, Joshua had slashed his own throat in a failed suicide attempt. He survived, was hospitalized, and later taken into custody.
How Joshua Killed Shannon
Joshua told investigators he and Shannon had sex that night, but afterward she said she regretted marrying him. He claimed she insulted him, and he lost control.
“I just wanted her to stop talking,” he allegedly said.
He strangled her with his hands and a belt, then stuffed her body into a storage container. For weeks, he moved the container around — even keeping it on their deck — before finally burying Shannon in their front yard. Police recovered her remains after his confession.
The Trial and Sentencing
In December 2017, Joshua pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. A Canadian court sentenced him to life in prison, with no chance of parole for 10 years.
At his sentencing, Joshua expressed regret: “I failed her. I failed all of you. I am so very sorry.”
A Life Cut Short
Shannon’s death left her family devastated, especially her sister Erin, who described the search for Shannon as “all-consuming.” Her dreams of building a career in acting ended before they could truly begin, and her loved ones were left to pick up the pieces of a tragedy caused by the very person she trusted most.
