COLUMBIA, MO – A well-respected former Marine and missionary lost his life in a deadly ambush after arranging to sell his iPhone to a group of teenagers who, police say, never intended to complete the transaction.
Ryan Burke, 42, had advertised his iPhone 15 Pro, priced at just under $600, on Facebook Marketplace. On Sunday night, he agreed to meet prospective buyers at his Columbia home, expecting a routine exchange. Instead, authorities say, a calculated plan to rob him ended in fatal violence.
According to investigators, Burke corresponded with four individuals about the sale—a trio of 18-year-olds, identified as Kobe Aust, Joseph Crane, and Alexis Baumann, along with a younger accomplice whose name remains withheld due to age. After confirming their arrival via text, the group made their way into Burke’s neighborhood around 8 p.m.
Police reports indicate that Baumann stayed outside in her vehicle, while Crane and the juvenile entered Burke’s home. Shots rang out shortly after, echoing through the quiet residential street. Baumann later admitted to investigators that she heard three gunshots from within the house before Crane and the younger suspect rushed back to her car. As Baumann drove away, the teens allegedly confessed to having shot Burke before taking the phone.
Following the killing, the stolen device was sold at an automated kiosk in a nearby Walmart store, police said. Surveillance footage later retrieved by detectives tied the suspects to the quick transaction.
Wounded and in desperate pain, Burke managed to contact both his family and emergency services. In poignant texts to his mother and sister, he shared a message of love in what would become his final moments. Despite his injuries, Burke also told responding officers that he had arranged the meeting to sell a phone and said he had been shot by the supposed buyer.
The investigation unraveled rapidly. Detectives learned that the group may have targeted at least two other victims using similar methods, threatening violence and stealing their phones. Security footage revealed a pattern of behavior, with the suspects appearing on camera at the same Walmart after each robbery.
Law enforcement tracked the group’s vehicle using automated license plate readers, which led to the swift arrest of Baumann and Aust. Crane and the juvenile were located and taken into custody soon after. During questioning, all four suspects confirmed various details about the robbery and shooting, providing investigators with a fuller account of the events.
Each of the accused now faces multiple felony charges, including second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and armed criminal action. According to authorities, all suspects are currently being held without bond pending further legal proceedings.
Burke’s legacy as a man who devoted himself to both military service and missionary work abroad has left a deep impact on his community, who continue to mourn his loss as the case proceeds through the courts.