Jury selection underway in trial of 'Wooded Rapist'

WKRN NEWS Channel 2 April 27, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Jury selection is underway Monday in the trial of the man suspected of being the serial rapist dubbed the "Wooded Rapist." Robert "Jason" Burdick is accused of raping more than a dozen women in Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties.

He was arrested last May.

Burdick will go on trial this week for the November 2007 rape of a 61-year-old Donelson woman. Police allege Burdick broke into the women's home on Fairbrook Drive in the early morning hours of November 19 and raped her.

40 potential jurors were interviewed Monday morning and a jury could be seated by Monday evening.

Burdick faces charges in the following attacks:

Davidson County: 1994: Breaking into a home on Franklin Pike and raping a 38-year-old woman in the early morning hours of March 1. 1998: Breaking into a home on Otter Creek Road and raping a 22-year-old woman in the early morning hours of November 20. 1998: Breaking into a home on Priest Road and attempting to rape a 36-year-old woman in the early morning hours of December 29. 1999: Breaking into a home on Reagan Run and raping a 45-year-old woman in the early morning hours of September 9. 2000: Breaking into a home on Tusculum Road and raping a 29-year-old woman in the early morning hours of February 18. 2005: Breaking into a home on Otter Creek Road and attempting to rape a 26-year-old woman in the early morning hours of June 28. 2006: Attempting to rape of a woman in the yard of her Otter Creek Road home on August 10. 2007: Raping a 61-year-old woman in her Fairbrook Drive home on November 19.

Williamson County: 1999: Breaking into a home in the Mooreland Estates subdivision in Brentwood and raping a 48-year-old woman and her 16-year-old daughter on the evening of March 31. 1999: Breaking into a home in the Foxland Hall subdivision and raping a 17-year-old girl in the early morning hours of November 2. 2004: Breaking into a home in the Meadowlake subdivision and raping a 46-year-old woman on the afternoon of November 4.

Wilson County: 2008: Raping a 16-year-old girl outside her home off Highway 109 in Mt. Juliet on February 1.