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Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Desperate excuse of woman arrested for fatal hit-and-run of Netflix star Sara Burack in Hamptons
A Virginia woman accused in the fatal hit-and-run that killed famous realtor Sara Burack argued that she believed she struck a traffic cone, it was revealed Saturday. Amanda Kempton, 32, was charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident in connection to the hit-and-run death of the Million Dollar Beach House star, according to the Southampton Town Police Department. Burack, 40, was reportedly walking in the right-hand lane of a busy Montauk Highway, pulling a pink wheeled suitcase, when she was struck by Kempton's vehicle around 3 am. She had sustained severe head trauma and multiple fractures. Despite being rushed to Stony Brook University Hospital, Burack died later that afternoon from her injuries. Kempton, a marine biologist, pleaded not guilty and was released from police custody following the Saturday hearing, during which she claimed to have thought she 'hit a traffic cone,' rather than the reality television star. Officials said Kempton's family had posted collateral in place of the $100,000 bail. Her family resides in Manorville, a hamlet in Suffolk County on New York's Long Island, often referred to as the 'gateway to the Hamptons.' Kempton faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in a felony, The Independent reported. Prosecutor MacDonald Drane, who argued for the high bail, described Kempton as a flight risk due to her departure from the crash site, according to The New York Post. Holding back tears, the 32-year-old Virginia-native listened as the court noted she had plans to attend a wedding in her home state on Saturday. Kempton's attorney, William Keahon, told the court that alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the case, despite her having spent time at a tavern earlier in the evening. He added that visibility was poor due to heavy fog, and that his client did not see Burack in the roadway. Kempton left the scene and drove to a friend's house, where she later discovered Burack's pink suitcase lodged beneath her vehicle. Authorities identified Kempton as the driver using a license plate reader and located her vehicle at her family's residence, where it showed front-end damage. Kempton grew up in Virginia, and holds degrees in microbiology and marine biology from George Mason University and Nova Southeastern University in Florida, respectively, according to social media. She has been working this year at 4-H's Camp Jekyll, located on Georgia's Jekyll Island, according to a Facebook post. Burack was a licensed real estate broker with experience in the luxury real estate market. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she gained national visibility as a cast member on the Netflix series Million Dollar Beach House. She was also active in charitable work, including fundraising for leukemia research and animal rescue initiatives. Her sudden death has elicited an outpouring of grief from friends, former colleagues, and members of the entertainment and real estate communities. 'I want people to remember she was an amazing person who really cared for people,' close family friend and fellow realtor Paulette Corsair told Newsday. 'She was a hardworking real estate agent who was there for others. She was loved greatly by her friends and a close family.'
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Southampton Police warn residents after nearly $100K lost to schemes
SOUTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – Local police are urging residents to be on high alert for scams after nearly $100,000 in losses have been reported in town since the start of the year. According to Southampton Police Chief Ian Illingsworth, schemers have used increasingly sophisticated tactics, some leveraging artificial intelligence, to manipulate victims into surrendering large sums of money. He noted that one elderly resident lost approximately $76,000 in total before authorities intervened, including $26,000 in cash that was about to be handed over to a scheme artist that showed up at their home. That individual was arrested by Southampton Police in January. 'All age brackets have been affected and understandably so,' said Illingsworth. 'The scammers are brazen, apply threat tactics, and use very sophisticated trickery that involve artificial intelligence such as spoofing phone numbers or AI-generated voice replication of a relative or friend.' These types of crimes are difficult to investigate and prosecute, particularly when perpetrators operate from outside the United States. Because of that, Illingsworth emphasized that prevention remains the most effective line of defense. Police are educating residents to recognize common red flags associated with scams, including: A strong sense of urgency or imminent threat, such as claims that a loved one is under arrest or that your computer has been compromised. Unusual payment requests, such as wiring money, using gift cards or bitcoin kiosks, or handing over large amounts of cash. Offers that seem too good to be true, like surprise lottery wins or online romantic interests who appear unusually glamorous or claim to be celebrities. To better combat the issue, the Southampton Police Department has formed a working group with local banks, the Southampton Council on Aging, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office, and area law enforcement agencies. The group aims to explore public education efforts and possible legislative solutions to reduce scam-related victimization. Anyone with concerns or questions is encouraged to contact the Southampton Police Department. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
