I saw this segment today and though I have seen some disturbing cases on UM, this one had to be among the most disturbing. Annette seemed like a sweet young lady and I can't understand what she ever saw in him. He wasn't charming or good looking. He was a pure redneck. The worst part was where he told his own daughter he would kill her. She should have known if she moved back there, it would only be a matter of time before he found her. If she stayed where she was, she would have been safe most likely. The thing I don't get is when they went to the police about him making threats to kill them, they were told nothing could be done unless he makes good on his threats. That's bull****. People can, and have, been arrested for making such threats. They don't mention it on the segment but this was not Jim Burnside's first crime. I read somewhere that he had am extensive criminal record that dated all the way back to the 50's. Another thing they don't discuss much is her relationship with "Dave", which by the way is his real name. They were more than just friends. It has been said that there was a romantic relationship between them but the show left that out because it wouldn't look good that she "cheated" on her pitiful excuse of a husband and they didn't want viewers to see him as the victim. I don't think they would have. If anything, most viewers would have been happy she found a decent guy. Had it not been for UM, Jim Burnside may never have been captured or worse, he may have met another young woman and done the same thing to her. He spent the last 25 years of his life locked up. I hope his death was slow and agonizing. He deserved nothing less.

Laws were a lot different in the 70s and 80s than they are now keep in mind. Jim passed away behind bars in 2015. No big loss

As far as I'm concerned, they should have tossed his body in the dumpster behind Taco Bell like the garbage he is.

Laws were a lot different in the 70s and 80s than they are now keep in mind.

Were they really THAT different, though? Let's take the entire cast of characters from 1988 (the year Annette left Jim) and place them in current day. I have a hard time believing that the outcome would be any different. And that is incredibly sad.

In 2021, maybe Annette would have been successful in getting a restraining order against Jim but how much protection would that have actually given her? Jim was an angry, violent, sociopath who had no issues beating his wife and making death threats against his 5 year old daughter TO HER FACE. If any legal person had issued him a restraining order, he would have laughed in their face. This is why many people say a restraining order is just a piece of paper.

A police officer interviewed in the segment pretty much sums it up best that the only way Annette could have survived was if she had 24 hour protection. And unless you're a politician or celebrity with money to burn, that option isn't feasible.

Annette should have moved to California or somewhere else far, far away. Back in the 80's, it was hard as hell to find a person who didn't want to be found. Jim Burnside would most likely have given up eventually. She would have gotten a divorce even if he objected to it.

Were they really THAT different, though? Let's take the entire cast of characters from 1988 (the year Annette left Jim) and place them in current day. I have a hard time believing that the outcome would be any different. And that is incredibly sad.

In 2021, maybe Annette would have been successful in getting a restraining order against Jim but how much protection would that have actually given her? Jim was an angry, violent, sociopath who had no issues beating his wife and making death threats against his 5 year old daughter TO HER FACE. If any legal person had issued him a restraining order, he would have laughed in their face. This is why many people say a restraining order is just a piece of paper.

A police officer interviewed in the segment pretty much sums it up best that the only way Annette could have survived was if she had 24 hour protection. And unless you're a politician or celebrity with money to burn, that option isn't feasible.

I agree. I watched the segment again today and I got so angry with law enforcement but at the same time, the detective interviewed was right. Burnside just didn't care. He was going to control and harm Annette no matter what. It's a very frustrating case, to say the least and I feel terrible for the daughter who had to endure it all.