Burgess completed the spell, but did not, in fact, capture Death. Hathaway had not only received nothing for his ethical lapse, he had opened himself up to blackmail, and Burgess used him to loot the museum of any artifact he cared to have. Burgess was questioned about Hathaway's suspicious death, but no action was taken against him due to lack of evidence. John Hathaway's death was ruled a suicide.