Matthew BurtonGEORGETOWN, Del.- A Sussex County, Del., man accused of murder will be extradited to Maryland to face charges.
At a preliminary hearing held Thursday morning in Georgetown, Superior Court Judge T. Henley Graves approved the extradition of Matthew Burton, despite objections by his attorneys.
Burton, 28, of Dagsboro, is accused of murdering Nicole Bennett of Millsboro. Burton and Bennett both worked at Bay Shore Community Church near Millsboro. Bennett, a mother of three, was working late at church June 14, the last night she was heard from. Maryland State Police said Burton, who worked as a church janitor, was at Bay Shore that same night. Bennett's body was found on June 15 along a dirt road in Worcester County.
As Graves read aloud from an affidavit at Thursday's hearing, he said that police investigating Bennett's murder found a ski mask, rope and gloves in Burton's vehicle.
A lower court judge originally approved Burton's extradition earlier this month but his attorneys challenged that decision. After Thursday's hearing, Burton's attorney said he will not appeal Thursday's ruling. He said it was not "a matter of if, but when" his client is extradited.
As of now, it is unclear when Burton will be sent to Maryland and formally charged.
The families of both Bennett and Burton were both in court Thursday.
