Michael Ryan Burke, a 42-year-old U.S. Marine veteran, firefighter, pastor, and humanitarian, died after being shot during a robbery at his home in Columbia, Missouri, on January 18, 2026. What began as a routine Facebook Marketplace sale of an iPhone turned deadly.
Authorities say the meeting escalated into a robbery. In his final moments, Burke managed to call 911, calmly describing the suspects. He also sent heartbreaking final messages to his mother, Erlinda Burke, and his sister, Maria Werly: “I’m dying and I love you.”
Burke was a graduate of the University of Missouri, earning degrees in psychology and sociology. He served as a Force Reconnaissance Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps with combat experience, later dedicating his life to service beyond the battlefield. He worked as a firefighter for the City of Columbia, served as a pastor, and committed himself to missionary work in Uganda, Haiti, and Iraq. He was also deeply involved in efforts to combat human trafficking.
Those who knew him say service defined every chapter of his life.
“That was just Ryan,” said longtime friend and fraternity brother Jerry Reifeiss. “He always put people in front of him and wanted to make sure people knew how he felt.”
Burke’s life was marked by courage, faith, and an unwavering commitment to others — whether protecting his community, serving his country, or helping the most vulnerable around the world.
As his family, friends, and community grieve an unimaginable loss, many are calling on others to honor him in the way he lived: with purpose, compassion, and love.
Let us remember his name.
Rest in peace, Marine. 🇺🇸
(Photo: Michael Ryan Burke)
