Marine biologist left Netflix star to die in Hamptons hit-and-run and tried to remove suitcase from car, court hears
The driver accused of killing a Netflix realtor in a hit and run in the Hamptons left her on the road to die as she fled the scene, a court heard on Monday.
Amanda Kempton appeared at the Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Court Complex in Riverhead on Monday with her father Christopher Kempton by her side in the case involving the death of Million Dollar Beach House star Sara Burack.
Burack, 40, was wheeling her pink suitcase along a road in Hampton Bays in the early hours of June 19 when Kempton allegedly mowed her down.
Prosecutors say Kempton, 32, then drove her SUV away and dragged the luggage under the wheel of her car for miles before coming to a stop.
She did pull over, but only to try and remove the stuck pink suitcase from under the car, the court heard. Kempton’s lawyer said at the time she thought she had hit a traffic cone.
Kempton pleaded not guilty on Monday to a single count of leaving the scene of an incident that resulted in death.
The Class D felony could land her between two and seven years in prison, if she is convicted.
The victim’s parents Judy and Fred Burack, sister Ali and her husband Matt were present. They sat silent and stone faced. It was their first court appearance since their loved one’s death.
A somber looking Kempton dressed in dark suit and flat-heeled shoes clutched her father’s hand as the Assistant District Attorney Macdonald Drane recounted the chilling details of when Burack was killed.
He shared how she never reported the crash to law enforcement or to render help to Burack.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney issued a statement. ‘ Leaving the scene of a fatal collision makes a tragic situation even worse.’
‘Rather than rendering help to Ms. Burack, the defendant allegedly left her to die. This indictment is an important step towards justice for Sara and her loved ones.’
Amanda Kempton, 32, held hands with her father Christopher Kempton when she arrived at Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Court Complex in Riverhead, Long Island on Monday
Sara Burack, 40, lived in Southampton and was a beloved Hamptons realtor and philanthropist who donated to several animal causes. She was hit and killed in the early hours of June 19
William Keahon, Esq., who is representing Kempton, told Judge Collins that Kempton was a marine biologist with no prior criminal history.
Collins ordered Kempton held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond or $1,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case.
He said her bond conditions are a 9pm curfew. The judge also instructed her to have her cell phone fully charged and always accessible.
Outside of the court house, Keahon said his client is ‘devastated’ that someone lost their life and lives with it ‘everyday’.
He said that Burack was told not to walk in the roadway before the June 19th tragedy.
‘There is a sidewalk five feet off the roadway that she could have been walking on with the suitcase but she chose to walk in the roadway,’ the attorney said.
‘Multiple police officers in South Hampton told Sara to keep out of the road that it wasn’t safe.’
Keahon said during the time and location of the crash there was zero visibility and foggy conditions as contributing factors.
He indicated that the video evidence did not accurately show how poor the visibility was.
‘It is my understanding and that is why I asked the DA for the make and model of the cameras that they have a defogging device so they have a clearer picture of what is going on that the normal eye is not picking up.’
On Friday, he was given the discovery.
It is unclear where Kempton went the night prior to the accident. Keohn would not speak on that but said previously that alcohol or speed was not a factor.
After the court hearing, Kempton walked quietly to her father’s vehicle as her father said politely to Daily Mail that their attorney would speak on their behalf.
Shortly after, the victim’s sister Ali, who was dressed all in black, the color of mourning, told Daily Mail she had ‘no comment’ as she walked out of the court house.
Sara’s grieving mother who was also dressed in black, had a sadness in her eyes and also did not want to speak.
Both mother and daughter helped Baruck’s father, who appeared frail as he relied on a walker, into a black Mercedes truck before they pulled away.
Amanda Kempton leaving court with her father and her attorney William Keohn, Esq (center)
Sara Burack (center) who worked for Nest Seekers, a prominent real estate firm in the Hamptons appeared on the Netflix show Million Dollar Beach House
Kempton was living in Virginia and staying with family in Manorville
The Daily Mail exclusively reported that the Good Samaritan, identified as Mario, was the person who discovered Burack lying on the roadway critically injured.
He called 911 and stayed with her until emergency responders arrived.
She was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
Despite Baruck’s glitzy past as an A-List realtor, Daily Mail revealed that she had been homeless ‘by choice’ and living out of a suitcase.
She had previously been a top-selling realtor at Nest Seekers International and had considerable experience of selling multi-million dollar homes.
She once appeared to have it all: a magnificent home, luxurious car, as well as close friends and relatives who adored her.
But in the last 12 months before her death Burack suffered a series of private struggles that saw her deteriorate into a destitute vagrant.
Locals who spoke to Daily Mail said they felt too loyal to Burack even in death to disclose the demons she had been battling.
One surprised Hamptons-dweller called Michael said that Burack’s distinctive long blonde hair and full lips made her look like a movie star.
He said he’d been stunned to discover she was homeless.
Sara Burack attends Sir Ivan’s Summer End Party featuring DJ Timo Mass at a Hamptons event
She was struck on a Hampton Bays road just before 3am Thursday by a driver who sped away from the crash
Other locals recalled the upsetting sight of Burack wheeling her bags around town, catching the bus or just walking alone.
Before the crash, Burack had stopped into a 7-Eleven, a place she often went to pick up items including, bottled water, heading west. The roads were dark and it was a foggy night.
Burack was reportedly walking in the right-hand lane of the busy Montauk Highway, pulling her pink wheeled suitcase, when she was struck by Amanda Kempton’s vehicle just before 3am outside of Villa Paul Restaurant.
On the night of the tragic hit-and- run, Burack had stopped at a taxi depot.
An employee there said the ‘homeless’ realtor walked into their office ‘between 10.30pm and 10.45pm,’ before asking for a cardboard box.
He said Burack appeared ‘combative’ and told him she was taking showers at Planet Fitness though he said she ‘looked unclean, had dirty hair, and a slight odor,’ the night he saw her.
‘I was not sure how she was getting her clothes cleaned but she was pretty much carrying everything with her and see her walking sometimes with a cart,’ he said.
Unware that she was once a former top real estate agent and reality TV star, he seemed unfazed how her life had dramatically changed.
‘In this business I see everything,’ he said. ‘The rise and fall of people.’
Paulette Corsair, a close friend of Burack, wasn’t in court on Monday but told Daily Mail how kind, selfless and special she was always helping people and animals often raising money for animal shelters.
‘I miss my dear friend,’ she said. ‘She didn’t deserve this. I hope she gets justice.’
Kempton is due back in court on November 20.
