A college student is killed by her boyfriend who lived right across the street. Her family’s long battle to keep him in prison. Erin Moriarty reports. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Chapter 1: What is the tragic story behind Katina Salerno's death?
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My dad passed away in 2013. His last words to me were, whatever it takes, you protect your mom and you fight to keep Steve in prison.
Katina Salarno was only 18 years old when she was shot in the head and killed by her boyfriend.
with the flash of a gun. My whole world just got turned upside down. Stephen Burns was convicted of murdering Katina Salerno in 1979. He just looks dangerous. It's like a killer face. If you looked at his eyes, there is nothing behind him. He has no soul. My name is Nina Salerno, and I am the sister of Katina. Stephen Burns was sentenced to 17 years to life.
In 1990, after just 10 years, Stephen Burns came up for parole. My parents, my sister Regina, myself, and friends and family traveled to Vacaville State Prison to protest his release.
As a father, I closed her casket and buried my 18-year-old child who was murdered by this animal. This is a body bag of my daughter. This is what you did to her, Steve.
46 years since Katina's death has not diminished one ounce of that pain. Where are we going? We are heading to the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office.
I am shaking, very shaky. You are right now.
How many parole hearings have you attended? Number 13. You've been at every single one of these? Yes, every single one. As Steve Burns heads into his 13th parole hearing, what are you thinking?
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Chapter 5: Why is Stephen Burns still a concern for Katina's family?
He was relentless towards her because she would not allow him into a class. He focused on her and was not going to stop till he got what he wanted.
Do you think that if Stephen Burns is released, he could hurt someone? Yes.
The next woman he goes out with who says no.
But there are some who believe that Stephen Burns deserves a second chance. Kevin Anderson, once a respected pediatrician, got to know Burns when he was incarcerated, also for murder. After 24 years in prison, Kevin was released on parole in 2023. He started working as a counselor. We first spoke to him the day before Stephen's 2025 parole hearing.
Do you think that Stephen Burns is a danger to society?
I can't say 100%, but I do think that Stephen Burns has done a lot of the work to get to that point where you're no longer a danger to society.
Stephen has earned a college degree and has worked with hospice patients. He has participated in numerous anger management and rehabilitation programs, some alongside Kevin.
I think that he has the tools now that he didn't have before.
Kevin worked with Steve in mock hearing sessions to help him prepare for the upcoming parole hearing.
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