Velma Barfield
Female Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
North Carolina, United States
TIME PERIOD
1969-1978
VICTIMS
7 confirmed
Margie Velma Barfield, an American serial killer, was convicted of one murder but linked to seven total, with her crimes spanning from April 4, 1969, to February 4, 1978, primarily in North Carolina. Barfield, born on October 29, 1932, in Eastover, North Carolina, was apprehended on May 13, 1978, after the suspicious deaths of several elderly individuals in her care, including her mother and two former employers, who exhibited symptoms consistent with poisoning. She was sentenced to death in December 1978 and became the first woman executed in the U.S. since 1962, receiving lethal injection on November 2, 1984. Significant evidence included her confession to the murder of Dollie Edwards and the toxicology reports linking her to the deaths of her victims, which highlighted her method of administering lethal doses of poison.
Velma Barfield is believed to have murdered her victims primarily for financial gain, as she was linked to the deaths of individuals who were often elderly or vulnerable and had life insurance policies. Some speculate that her troubled upbringing and subsequent addiction to prescription drugs contributed to her violent behavior. Additionally, there are theories that her actions were influenced by a desire for control and revenge against those who had wronged her throughout her life.
The Story of Velma Barfield: A Tale of Murder and Redemption
Early Life and Troubling Beginnings
Margie Velma Barfield, born on October 29, 1932, in Eastover, North Carolina, emerged from a troubled childhood. Raised near Fayetteville, Velma endured a home marred by her father's physical abuse, while her mother stood by, silent and passive. Seeking an escape from this harsh environment, Velma married Thomas Burke in 1949. Initially, their union promised happiness, blessed with two children and a semblance of a calm life. However, a hysterectomy and subsequent back pain led Velma down a path of prescription drug addiction, altering her behavior and straining their marriage.
Thomas's increasing alcoholism clashed with Velma's complaints, escalating into bitter confrontations. On April 4, 1969, a tragic turn struck their lives. After Thomas passed out one night, Velma and their children left the house, only to return to find it engulfed in flames, with Thomas dead inside.
A Trail of Deaths
Velma remarried in 1970, this time to Jennings Barfield, a widower. Yet, this marriage was short-lived. Jennings died on March 22, 1971, supposedly from heart complications. The shadow of death seemed to follow Velma.
In 1974, Velma's mother, Lillian Bullard, experienced violent bouts of diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Though she initially recovered, she suffered a relapse during a Christmas visit that year and succumbed on December 30. The following year, Velma faced legal troubles, convicted of writing seven bad checks, for which she served three months of a six-month sentence.
By 1976, Velma shifted her focus to caring for the elderly, beginning with Montgomery and Dollie Edwards in Lumberton. Montgomery fell ill and died on January 29, 1977. Shortly after, Dollie exhibited identical symptoms to Lillian Bullard and died on March 1. Velma later confessed to Dollie's murder.
Taking another caretaker position, Velma tended to 76-year-old Record Lee, who had a broken leg. On June 4, 1977, John Henry Lee, Record's husband, suffered severe stomach and chest pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, leading to his death. Velma admitted to his murder as well.
Rowland Stuart Taylor, Velma's boyfriend and a relative of Dollie Edwards, became her next victim. Fearing he had discovered her forgery activities, Velma laced his beer and tea with arsenic-based rat poison. Taylor died on February 3, 1978, while Velma feigned efforts to nurse him back to health. An autopsy revealed arsenic in Taylor's system.
Investigation and Arrest
Following Taylor's death, the chain of fatalities surrounding Velma couldn't be ignored. Investigators exhumed Jennings Barfield's body, uncovering traces of arsenic, though Velma denied responsibility for this death. Despite confessing to multiple murders, Velma was tried and convicted solely for the murder of Rowland Stuart Taylor.
The Path to Execution
Incarcerated at Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina, Velma Barfield became a unique figure as the state's only female death row inmate. Her imprisonment saw a transformation; she embraced Christianity, becoming a devout minister to fellow inmates, earning praise from evangelist Billy Graham.
Efforts to commute her sentence to life imprisonment emerged, supported by testimony from Dorothy Otnow Lewis, a psychiatrist claiming Velma suffered from dissociative identity disorder. According to Lewis, one of Velma's personalities, "Billy," confessed to the murders. However, the judge remained unmoved, famously stating, "One of them did it."
Velma's appeals were ultimately denied, and she accepted her fate, choosing to "die with dignity." On November 2, 1984, she was executed by lethal injection at Central Prison. Before her death, she expressed remorse to the families affected by her actions, thanking those who supported her during her incarceration. Her last meal consisted of Cheez Doodles and Coca-Cola.
Despite her wish for organ donation, only her corneas and some skin tissue could be used due to the execution process. Velma was laid to rest in a small North Carolina cemetery near her first husband, Thomas Burke.
Political and Social Impact
Velma Barfield's execution stirred political controversy, as Governor Jim Hunt, then challenging for a U.S. Senate seat, denied her clemency request. Her case highlighted issues surrounding capital punishment and the treatment of female inmates on death row.
Cultural Reflections
Singer-songwriter Jonathan Byrd, grandson of Jennings Barfield, encapsulated the haunting tale in his song "Velma," offering a personal narrative of the events and investigation.
Sources
- Velma Margie Barfield #29 - Office of the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney
- Schmidt, William E. "First Woman is Executed in U.S. Since 1962." New York Times.
- "Death Sentence, a new book by Jerry Bledsoe." Correction News, North Carolina Department of Correction.
- Vronsky, Peter. "Female Serial Killers: How and Why Women Become Monsters." Berkley Books.
- "Graham Praises Woman Executed for Murder." New York Times.
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Husband's Death
Velma Barfield's husband, Thomas, dies in a house fire.
Second Husband Dies
Velma's second husband, Jennings Barfield, dies of heart complications.
Montgomery Edwards Dies
Montgomery Edwards, an elderly man Barfield cared for, dies after falling ill.
Dollie Edwards Dies
Dollie Edwards, another elderly patient, dies after similar symptoms.
Rowland Taylor Dies
Barfield's boyfriend Rowland Taylor dies from arsenic poisoning.
Arrest
Velma Barfield is arrested for the murder of Rowland Taylor.
Convicted of Murder
Barfield is convicted of first-degree murder for the death of Rowland Taylor.
Death Sentence
Barfield is sentenced to death for her conviction.
Execution
Velma Barfield is executed by lethal injection, becoming the first woman executed in the U.S. since 1962.
Margie Velma Barfield, an American serial killer, was convicted of one murder but linked to seven total, with her crimes spanning from April 4, 1969, to February 4, 1978, primarily in North Carolina. Barfield, born on October 29, 1932, in Eastover, North Carolina, was apprehended on May 13, 1978, after the suspicious deaths of several elderly individuals in her care, including her mother and two former employers, who exhibited symptoms consistent with poisoning. She was sentenced to death in December 1978 and became the first woman executed in the U.S. since 1962, receiving lethal injection on November 2, 1984. Significant evidence included her confession to the murder of Dollie Edwards and the toxicology reports linking her to the deaths of her victims, which highlighted her method of administering lethal doses of poison.
Velma Barfield is believed to have murdered her victims primarily for financial gain, as she was linked to the deaths of individuals who were often elderly or vulnerable and had life insurance policies. Some speculate that her troubled upbringing and subsequent addiction to prescription drugs contributed to her violent behavior. Additionally, there are theories that her actions were influenced by a desire for control and revenge against those who had wronged her throughout her life.
The Story of Velma Barfield: A Tale of Murder and Redemption
Early Life and Troubling Beginnings
Margie Velma Barfield, born on October 29, 1932, in Eastover, North Carolina, emerged from a troubled childhood. Raised near Fayetteville, Velma endured a home marred by her father's physical abuse, while her mother stood by, silent and passive. Seeking an escape from this harsh environment, Velma married Thomas Burke in 1949. Initially, their union promised happiness, blessed with two children and a semblance of a calm life. However, a hysterectomy and subsequent back pain led Velma down a path of prescription drug addiction, altering her behavior and straining their marriage.
Thomas's increasing alcoholism clashed with Velma's complaints, escalating into bitter confrontations. On April 4, 1969, a tragic turn struck their lives. After Thomas passed out one night, Velma and their children left the house, only to return to find it engulfed in flames, with Thomas dead inside.
A Trail of Deaths
Velma remarried in 1970, this time to Jennings Barfield, a widower. Yet, this marriage was short-lived. Jennings died on March 22, 1971, supposedly from heart complications. The shadow of death seemed to follow Velma.
In 1974, Velma's mother, Lillian Bullard, experienced violent bouts of diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Though she initially recovered, she suffered a relapse during a Christmas visit that year and succumbed on December 30. The following year, Velma faced legal troubles, convicted of writing seven bad checks, for which she served three months of a six-month sentence.
By 1976, Velma shifted her focus to caring for the elderly, beginning with Montgomery and Dollie Edwards in Lumberton. Montgomery fell ill and died on January 29, 1977. Shortly after, Dollie exhibited identical symptoms to Lillian Bullard and died on March 1. Velma later confessed to Dollie's murder.
Taking another caretaker position, Velma tended to 76-year-old Record Lee, who had a broken leg. On June 4, 1977, John Henry Lee, Record's husband, suffered severe stomach and chest pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, leading to his death. Velma admitted to his murder as well.
Rowland Stuart Taylor, Velma's boyfriend and a relative of Dollie Edwards, became her next victim. Fearing he had discovered her forgery activities, Velma laced his beer and tea with arsenic-based rat poison. Taylor died on February 3, 1978, while Velma feigned efforts to nurse him back to health. An autopsy revealed arsenic in Taylor's system.
Investigation and Arrest
Following Taylor's death, the chain of fatalities surrounding Velma couldn't be ignored. Investigators exhumed Jennings Barfield's body, uncovering traces of arsenic, though Velma denied responsibility for this death. Despite confessing to multiple murders, Velma was tried and convicted solely for the murder of Rowland Stuart Taylor.
The Path to Execution
Incarcerated at Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina, Velma Barfield became a unique figure as the state's only female death row inmate. Her imprisonment saw a transformation; she embraced Christianity, becoming a devout minister to fellow inmates, earning praise from evangelist Billy Graham.
Efforts to commute her sentence to life imprisonment emerged, supported by testimony from Dorothy Otnow Lewis, a psychiatrist claiming Velma suffered from dissociative identity disorder. According to Lewis, one of Velma's personalities, "Billy," confessed to the murders. However, the judge remained unmoved, famously stating, "One of them did it."
Velma's appeals were ultimately denied, and she accepted her fate, choosing to "die with dignity." On November 2, 1984, she was executed by lethal injection at Central Prison. Before her death, she expressed remorse to the families affected by her actions, thanking those who supported her during her incarceration. Her last meal consisted of Cheez Doodles and Coca-Cola.
Despite her wish for organ donation, only her corneas and some skin tissue could be used due to the execution process. Velma was laid to rest in a small North Carolina cemetery near her first husband, Thomas Burke.
Political and Social Impact
Velma Barfield's execution stirred political controversy, as Governor Jim Hunt, then challenging for a U.S. Senate seat, denied her clemency request. Her case highlighted issues surrounding capital punishment and the treatment of female inmates on death row.
Cultural Reflections
Singer-songwriter Jonathan Byrd, grandson of Jennings Barfield, encapsulated the haunting tale in his song "Velma," offering a personal narrative of the events and investigation.
Sources
- Velma Margie Barfield #29 - Office of the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney
- Schmidt, William E. "First Woman is Executed in U.S. Since 1962." New York Times.
- "Death Sentence, a new book by Jerry Bledsoe." Correction News, North Carolina Department of Correction.
- Vronsky, Peter. "Female Serial Killers: How and Why Women Become Monsters." Berkley Books.
- "Graham Praises Woman Executed for Murder." New York Times.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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Husband's Death
Velma Barfield's husband, Thomas, dies in a house fire.
Second Husband Dies
Velma's second husband, Jennings Barfield, dies of heart complications.
Montgomery Edwards Dies
Montgomery Edwards, an elderly man Barfield cared for, dies after falling ill.
Dollie Edwards Dies
Dollie Edwards, another elderly patient, dies after similar symptoms.
Rowland Taylor Dies
Barfield's boyfriend Rowland Taylor dies from arsenic poisoning.
Arrest
Velma Barfield is arrested for the murder of Rowland Taylor.
Convicted of Murder
Barfield is convicted of first-degree murder for the death of Rowland Taylor.
Death Sentence
Barfield is sentenced to death for her conviction.
Execution
Velma Barfield is executed by lethal injection, becoming the first woman executed in the U.S. since 1962.