A North Carolina man has been arrested for allegedly pulling off a marriage hustle straight out of a soap opera — except it could land him in prison.
Authorities say 63-year-old Harry Irvine Burdick Jr. was living a triple life, legally married to three different women across three other counties. The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office says the scheme was all about “financial and personal gain,” though they didn’t specify what exactly Burdick was after.
The investigation started in April after a tip. Detectives soon uncovered that Burdick had marriage licenses in Lincoln, Davidson, and Guilford counties — but no record of a divorce in sight. On August 22, police arrested him and charged him with two felony counts of bigamy. He didn’t spend long behind bars; he was released that day with a written promise to attend court. His first appearance is set for September 22 at the Davidson County Courthouse.
Bigamy in North Carolina is no small charge. Under state law, it’s a Class I felony, which basically means you can’t marry someone new while your first marriage is still legally valid. The penalties range from four to 10 months in prison, but in extreme cases, the sentence can stretch up to two years.
There are a few loopholes in the law — like if your spouse has been MIA for seven years or a court has already voided the marriage — but none apply to Burdick. Investigators clarified that there were no divorces, annulments, or legal outs.
Detectives aren’t convinced the three marriages are the whole story. They’re urging anyone who thinks they might’ve been tied to Burdick without a proper divorce to come forward. Victims can contact Detective Foushee directly at (336) 236-3365.
Getting married in North Carolina isn’t complicated, but there are rules: both people have to show up, IDs in hand, and the license only works for 60 days. Burdick allegedly sidestepped detection by spreading his marriages across multiple counties. It wasn’t the most high-tech plan — but it worked, at least for a while.
Now, with the scheme exposed, Burdick could face serious time for turning marriage into a financial hustle. Investigators are still trying to determine just how many people may have been caught up in his web.
