Police 'Have Leads' in Auburn Murder

Police said they have some strong leads in the murder of Lauren Burk, who was found shot to death near the campus of Auburn University.

Burk's family said they will be reading a prepared statement to the media on Friday morning. That announcement came on the same day the family finalized arrangements for her funeral.

Funeral services for Lauren Burk will be held Sunday at Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta. Rabbi Steven Lebow said the support the family has received is a tribute to Lauren's life.

"She was a very sweet child," Lebow said. "I know she was very beloved by her friends, her friends at Auburn and her friends at Walton, and I think the community is really pulling together to give the Burk family support."

In Alabama on Thursday afternoon, Auburn police announced a task force headed up by the FBI has been formed to catch her killer.

"She is an 18-year old freshman at Auburn University, she's somebody's daughter," said Auburn Assistant Police Chief Thomas Dawson. "And that's why the task force was established -- to get the brightest minds on this case. We want to put somebody in jail that committed this crime."

They said they have leads but are not naming any suspects at this time.

Burk died from a gunshot wound after she was found wounded Tuesday night along Alabama Highway 147, off campus. A short time later, her car was found engulfed in flames on the Auburn campus.

Police have been in constant contact with her family, updating them on a daily basis.

Rabbi Lebow spared no mercy for the person who killed Lauren Burk.

"Me personally, I have to tell you, I know there are religions which say you should love the sinner or forgive the sinner," Lebow said. "I don't believe that at all. This is a heinous act. The perpetrator should be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Lauren Burk's Marietta community will be able to pay their respects at two services this weekend. A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, then a funeral at the Temple Sunday at 5:30 p.m.

The Burk family has set up the Lauren Burk Reward Fund that anyone can donate to at any Wachovia Bank branch.