KENOSHA, Wis. — In an unusual development following charges filed against Salem woman Savannah Lee Burm, both Burm’s sister and Burm’s attorney contacted Kenosha County Eye after the outlet published a story detailing allegations that Burm helped accused attempted homicide suspect Jake C. Wenzel avoid capture.

Burm, 29, was charged on Nov. 26 with Straw Purchasing of a Firearm, Harboring or Aiding a Felon, Possession With Intent to Deliver THC, Obstructing an Officer, Possession of Nitrous Oxide With Intent to Inhale, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Court Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II set Burm’s bail at $75,000 cash, and she is due back in court on April 16.

According to the criminal complaint, Burm allegedly purchased a Ruger .380-caliber handgun for Wenzel even though she knew he was a convicted felon who could not legally possess firearms. Investigators say Burm and Wenzel were together at the time of the Nov. 16 shooting in Salem Lakes, when Wenzel allegedly fired toward a home occupied by Burm’s sister and her boyfriend.

Authorities allege that after the shooting, Burm repeatedly lied to investigators, denied having contact with Wenzel, refused to let detectives review her phone, deleted messages, helped him avoid arrest, rented motel rooms for him, and transported him while he was the subject of a felony probation warrant and an attempted homicide investigation.

Investigators say Burm eventually admitted she bought the firearm for Wenzel and helped move him between motels after the shooting. They also say she acknowledged that she was “lying to all of them” while deputies searched for him.

After Kenosha County Eye published its initial story, Burm’s sister, Dominique Burm, publicly commented that she was upset she was not given an opportunity to tell her side of the story. Dominique Burm’s public comments appeared to criticize Kenosha County Eye’s coverage and suggested there was additional context that had not been included.

Kenosha County Eye responded publicly and told Dominique Burm that Savannah Burm appeared to be “in deep shit” based on the allegations outlined in the criminal complaint and the text messages cited by investigators.

Shortly afterward, Burm’s attorney, Justin Singleton of the Singleton Law Firm LLC, contacted Kenosha County Eye directly in what appeared to be an effort to push back on the outlet’s reporting.

Singleton was snarky and unprofessional during the conversation and repeatedly talked over this author. Singleton allegedly argued that saying Burm was “in deep shit” was defamatory and emphasized that his client had not been convicted.

Kenosha County Eye explained that its reporting was based entirely on allegations contained in a criminal complaint filed in Kenosha County Circuit Court and that it routinely reports on allegations made by prosecutors and law enforcement.

The outlet also noted that it is highly unusual for an attorney representing a client in an open and active felony case to proactively contact a media outlet to debate the wording of a story, particularly where the article accurately describes allegations contained in a public criminal complaint.

Singleton also told Kenosha County Eye that he had recorded the conversation. It’s doubdfull he is telling the truth.

Burm’s mother, Yvonne Wetzel, also made a public Facebook post criticizing Kenosha County Eye’s reporting and suggesting that Savannah Burm should have been given an opportunity to explain her side of the story.

As a defense investigator, this author knows that defendant’s aren’t advised to speak to the media. For this reason, Kenosha County Eye generally does not seek comment from defendants before publishing serious criminal complaint stories because the allegations are already public, filed in court, and subject to future hearings where defendants and attorneys may challenge the accusations.

Prosecutors allege Burm’s actions helped Wenzel remain free in the hours after the shooting, during which time authorities say he continued making threats, fled law enforcement, crashed a vehicle during a pursuit, and was eventually taken into custody in Racine County.

Wenzel remains charged with two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and multiple additional felony charges related to the shooting, the firearm, and his alleged effort to avoid arrest.