SHEPHERDSVILLE – Dozens of family and friends sat in the Bullitt County Circuit Courtroom on Tuesday afternoon.
They listened as one person was sentenced and another entered a guilty plea in the death of the beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend to so many.
However, what they didn’t hear was the one thing they would love to know – where did Nicole and Brandon Stivers dispose of the body of Justin Burt in early September 2020.
It was an emotional day in the courtroom as Burt’s parents and sister all testified during the sentencing phase for Nicole Stivers. Each turned their chairs to look directly at the defendant, who showed no emotion.
Both entered a guilty plea on the charges of assault, tampering with physical evidence and manslaughter.
Each would have to serve 30 years in prison with no opportunity for parole until 85 percent of the sentence is served.
During the final sentencing for Nicole Stivers, David Burt said he wanted her to fully understand what she did when she took his son from them.
While she will still be able to speak with her family and friends, Justin’s family will not have that opportunity.
“To me, every breath you take is one too many,” he added.
Anita Burt said that she has struggled to find the right things to say.
“He didn’t deserve this,” said Justin’s mother.
She described her son as one who was funny, had a desire to please everyone and called her several times each day. He was a person who hated the dark and being alone.
Justin was a forgiving person who enjoyed everyone. Unfortunately, he was a trusting person who didn’t see the evilness that was inside of Nicole, his neighbor.
“Justin always wanted to have friends,” said his mother.
On that particular night in September, Justin came over the Nicole’s home late in the evening. He would leave and then return.
She testified that Brandon was upset that Justin was there and had a knife. She claimed that she grabbed a gun and fired a warning shot to stop any altercation.
Her shot struck Justin. She testified as she left the area to call 911, she heard three more shots. Burt was struck three times in the head, she testified.
“You shot the wrong man,” Anita Burt told her on Wednesday. “I pray for your soul.”
What the family still has yet to hear is where the body was disposed of. During the guilty plea, Nicole Stivers, 37, testified it was dumped the next morning in Sandusky, Ohio.
“You’re not capable of telling the truth,” said Anita, who added that after taking his life, the defendant still couldn’t tell the family where the body could be located.
Christina LaFever, Justin’s sister, told Judge Rodney Burress and the others in the courtroom of her struggles since that September 4, 2020, incident.
She became overwhelmed with trying to help her family find Justin. That included the hiring of a private detective. In the end, the sleepless nights led to a loss of her job, weight gain and emotional distress.
LaFever talked about the many things her brother will miss out on in life – being a father, helping her raise her son, being with family and friends.
“Thirty years is not justice,” she said of the sentence. “It will never be enough.”
The last time she talked to her brother was at a birthday party on Aug. 29, 2020. If she had known what would happen, she never would have stopped hugging Justin.
In talking with friends of Nicole, LaFever said she didn’t find a lot of kind words. In fact, several said they weren’t surprised that she could commit murder.
If Stivers is ever released from prison, she said the public is at risk.
To date, Burt’s body has not been found.
LaFever said the defendants need to reveal the location of the body so that a proper burial can be held.
Prior to the family comments, Stivers did state that she was truly and genuinely sorry for her actions.
She referred to drug use as being a part of her problems but that she is working each day to become a better person.
With the family and the detectives in agreement, according to Commonwealth Attorney Bailey Taylor, Burress accepted the plea.
Stivers was taken back to the Bullitt County Detention Center, where she will then be assigned by the Kentucky Correctional Cabinet to serve her prison term.
Following the final sentencing, Brandon A. Stivers, 40, entered his guilty plea.
He entered the plea to the amended charges of manslaughter and assault, as well tampering with physical evidence.
Like his wife, his pair of 15-year sentences would be served consecutively for a total of 30 years.
He made no comments about the events of that evening or the location that the couple dumped the body.
His final sentencing will be set for 2 p.m. on May 31. At that time, family members will also be given an opportunity to make statements to the court.