He Asked for One Last Hug… Then Tried to Kill Her

<p>As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Melissa Dohme Hill with me today. <br>On January 24, 2012, 20-year-old Melissa Dohme agreed to meet her ex-boyfriend, Robert Lee Burton Jr., outside her home in Clearwater, Florida. They had broken up, and a no-contact order was in place after an earlier domestic battery incident. Burton had repeatedly called and texted her that night, asking for one last hug. When she embraced him, he pulled out a knife and stabbed her 32 times. Two witnesses intervened, and Burton fled.</p><p>Melissa suffered wounds to her head, neck, face, and arms, as well as severe blood loss and a stroke. Doctors said she came close to dying. She survived after emergency treatment, then spent months undergoing surgeries and relearning how to walk and speak.</p><p>Burton pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder in August 2013. That October, a judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole. At the sentencing hearing, Melissa spoke about the attack and described herself not as a victim of domestic violence, but as a survivor.</p><p>One of the first responders who helped save Melissa was firefighter-paramedic Cameron Hill. They reconnected during her recovery, later began a relationship, and married in 2017. Melissa has since spoken publicly about surviving domestic abuse and helping others recognize its dangers.</p>