Monica (Minnie) Janonis

Monica Janonis, ex-wife of George Janonis, ex-wife of Peter Burton, mother of Mildred.

Mrs. Janonis married her second husband, Peter C. Burton, in 1937. They lived together as man and wife for about one month. Divorce followed in 1938. As time passed, Mr. Burton attempted to reconcile with Monica, who resumed surname "Janonis." She owned a beauty parlor on MI Ave. near Central. She lodged at widow Ursula Jakubowski's boarding house on Central. Both ladies were Lithuanian-born.

After months of attempted reconciliation, in March 1938, Mr. Burton murdered both Monica and Mrs. Jakubowski. 18 year old Mildred found the bodies of her mother and Mrs. Jakubowski.

Prior to the tragedy, Mrs. Jakubowski's husband, Lithuanian-born Fritz (Frank), killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning in 1937.

After the murders, Mr. Burton fled to Buffalo, New York where he was apprehended by Detroit detectives. While in police custody in Buffalo, he jumped from a third-story window. He died a few days later from his injuries. The tragedy was covered by newspapers nationwide.

Both ladies' bodies were prepared for burial by Bauza Funeral Home, Detroit. Both graves are located at Woodmere Cemetery.

Burial-https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/228203750/monica-janonis?create...

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 https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9092/images/41327_...

Divorce of George & Monica noted in 1930 US census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7ML-S2R