True Story of Velma Barfield's life by Murder Shelf Book Club

[00:00:00] Special Agent Wiltratt, Judge of the Investigation.

[00:00:03] ABC's hit series, Wiltratt, is back.

[00:00:06] He read their crime scene like it was a book.

[00:00:08] Tonight at its new time at 8-7 Central.

[00:00:10] I bet I can solve this tonight.

[00:00:12] Critics are calling it an entertaining, powerful, heart-raising drama.

[00:00:16] There's a bomb in this building.

[00:00:17] Clear this entire block!

[00:00:19] Wiltratt has joined the list of greatest TV detectives.

[00:00:22] He's good police, and he's objectively hard.

[00:00:24] Wiltratt, who sees it premiere tonight, 8-7 Central on ABC, you're gonna like today's episode, it's from Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast. Murder Shelf Book Club Podcasts telling the true crime book stories you don't have time to read with analysis, updates, and interviews. If you liked today's episode, make sure to check out the episode description for links to subscribe. All right, let's get this show started.

[00:01:40] Begin.

[00:01:41] The Murder Shelf Book Club contains disturbing content

[00:01:45] related to real life crimes. episode 65, Second Cast, the female of the species, part three of my trilogy on death sentence, The True Story of Elma Barfield's Life, Crimes and Execution, by Jerry Bledso. First, thank you for your kind words of support. It is my joy to do this podcast for you and

[00:03:00] you keep me going. An exciting development, but hey, you never know.

[00:04:20] Some of you told me that you wait for all three parts to be out before listening, and

[00:04:24] I get that strategy. actions ranged from relief, ventilation, to despair and depression. The North Carolina correction institution for women had no death row. Cell blocked dorm C, which held prisoners with disciplinary issues, is where Velma was being held as feelings of depression and confusion overwhelmed her.

[00:05:40] And she was suffering from drug withdrawal, big time. attended her for years teaching Sunday school. Later, she admitted it had all been a facade. Sitting in prison after murdering at least five people, she wondered if she could truly be forgiven, truly have God's love truly be at peace. She says one night, listening to of execution pending appeal from the U.S. Supreme Court, a lengthy and expensive proposition. But there was some positive news Velma'sing, Burr told the press, quote, she's resolved to fight and she and I believe that she will get a new trial at some point, end quote. Burr networked and connected with Fayetteville attorney Jimmy Little.

[00:09:41] Jointly filing a motion for a stay of execution Velma was not sane, but was not certain that she met the standard for legal insanity, which

[00:11:00] in a nutshell is not knowing your criminal actions are wrong. On December 12, Judge her parents divorcing, not getting along with her mom. Alone at school Beth soon began skipping classes, spending her days on the streets. And eventually she became involved with crimes, and was on the scene when a man was murdered, for which she received the 34-year sentence. Beth and Velma would become as close as mother and daughter

[00:12:22] in the next months, keeping in touch

[00:12:24] for the rest of Velma's life.

[00:12:26] Gradually, Vel wrote letters to her family, as well as the Edwards, Lee, and Taylor families, to be delivered on her death. Well, on the face of it, good for her.

[00:13:42] Quote, God has convinced me of how wrong my acts were, how I have wronged each of you, going against them on every count." The evidence against her was overwhelming. She was convicted and sentenced in stringed compliance with constitutionally sound statutory scheme by twelve of her peers. The death penalty should be imposed in this case.

[00:15:00] He stated that Judge McKinnon had not committed any constitutional violations by allowing Wood North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt executed a woman. Well, what a sexist question when I think about it. The law should be applied. Male, female is completely irrelevant. Fortunately, times do change. Now this coincided with Velma losing her spiritual counselor, Hugh Hoyle, who had taken a job

[00:16:22] in Kansas.

[00:16:23] Crushed, they had grown close all these years. Velma held Ronnie as he cried, more than he had since he was a boy, fearing he would be cut out of Michael's life. Later Velma would say, quote, Ronnie let me be his mother again, end quote. An eight issue appeal was filed in the Fourth Circuit Court Enrichment, which was due to

[00:17:41] be argued March 8. Burr and Little hadmith came to assist Husky, and he himself was shot to death as he got out of the patrol car. Before Hutchins was subdued,.S. Supreme Court, and they'd get a result in weeks, and it might be over. Hence, they were preparing for the clemency appeal to the governor, their last resort. They had to show the governor that Velma had turned her life around, that his compassion would not be misplaced, and that Momma Margie had

[00:20:22] a positive influence on other prison women. Ifma said, quote, yes he did. My minister asked me if I'd ever thought about telling my mother, but I never did. She just wouldn on NBC and CBS news programs discussing her drug addiction, her remorse about the murders, with Kim saying her mother was a warm person with a large family that loves her, a devout Christian. Joe Freeman Britt felt somewhat differently.

[00:23:02] Quote, far from being some sweet little old everybody. Death Watch is a bleak environment that normally death row inmates went to about five days out, not 79. It's an isolated, dark, tiny bear cell just outside the execution chamber.

[00:24:22] Aghast Velma's belongings were tossed into were permitted to continue to see her at Central, but they were under a gag order. Later it was learned that Secretary of Corrections James Woodard was recalled from vacation to put a plan into effect to isolate Velma after she'd been on the two national TV networks.

[00:25:46] Lots of political shenanigans here. called his own press conference asking, why was Velma subjected to conditions no other inmate had suffered? And only after her side of the story was beginning to be told. When the first press conference with journalists was arranged, Velma refused to participate in protest. All right, believe it or's son religious conversion. Remember, begun after three days in prison. They thought Velma had attended church her entire life. She herself admitted that was all presentation and shallow. They rejected the claim that Velma killed because she was drugged up and out of her mind.

[00:28:22] She killed because she took pleasure in the leniency to her victims, all of whom could well be leading fruitful lives. Alice, Margie, and Sylvia began calling newspapers, started a petition drive, and arranged for people to speak to the governor against clemency.

[00:29:42] Articles began appearing in the fateful times and 90 days after a hearing, meaning an execution would likely occur two weeks after the

[00:31:03] November election. that, right? Tackling this head on, Governor Hunt announced that he would listen to both sides September 18th and 19th, and he would make a decision on clemacy with no regards to politics. Then, an interview with Dr. Sullivan Rose was published in the, could lead to violent impulses and poor behavior. Speaking to Lewis, Velma confirmed that she had been knocked out as a kid when she was about 10 years old. She also had a serious bike accident of 14, not to mention her car accidents, which had

[00:33:42] also caused blows to her head and blackouts. Hoping to ward off others inserting themselves into her case given the enormous media coverage, it was time to end the suffering and pain for everyone involved. Then news came from Governor Hunt. Facing Velma Jimmy Spoke. The Governor is denying clemency.

[00:35:02] They'll accept it calmly, telling Jimmy that he and Dick Burr had done everything anyone

[00:35:07] could. Kim and Velma also spoke intently, letting go of the hurts from years ago and cleansing their very souls. Velma told them of her shame and pain of inflicting this on her children, it was more than she could bear. Kim assured her mother that she had been there for them. They discussed funeral plans and decided Velma would be buried with their father, Thomas

[00:36:22] Burke.

[00:36:24] Another visitor who was a great source of religious comfort and friendship was Anne of paper with Ronnie clawing himself trying to escape them. But this last time upon waking, a memory resurfaced from weeks before his father died. Thomas had shown Ronnie something in his bedroom, plastic waste can that had something burned in it. One side of the can was melted, quote, your mother set that fire while I was sleeping,

[00:37:43] end quote, Velma couldn't recall it all. Thomas was drunk again, and they'd argued and he'd passed out on the bed. She had a cigarette or a match in her hand, and she laid it at the foot of the bed, closing the bedroom door behind her, and left for the laundromat. A fireman had told Ronnie that the bedroom door was shut.

[00:39:01] And Ronnie knew that wasn't right.

[00:39:03] His father never closed that door. himself to the bedroom and fall down on the bed, he didn't bother to undress. I got in my car and picked up my niece and we drove to Mamas, picking her up as we took our clothes to the wash-a-teria." Now this book was written while Vama was on death row after her religious conversion.

[00:40:20] Vama Barfield, the born-again Christian, is still sent. She's facing God, and she's still hedging while enjoying being on TV. He knew she killed five, and likely Jennings Barfield II, which made six. Now Ronnie went and pressed VELM on this, reminding her that Jennings

[00:41:40] was probably killed by arsenic. Recall at her trial, VELM adamantly denied killing Now what does Velma's book say about this? Well here you are. Quote, life with Jennings got worse. I can't be under all this. I've got to get away from the pressure. I bought a bottle of poison. Oh my God, what am I doing? Stop. I was so confused.

[00:43:00] Part of me cried.

[00:43:01] It was the only way.

[00:43:03] Another part of me was begging to stop.

[00:43:06] This will make him sick. killed Jennings Barfield just like she tried to kill Dolly Edwards and her own daughter Kim and son-in-law Dennis. She gave Stuart Taylor arsenic at dinner before he took her to a religious revival. That is how much of a Christian woman she is. Slow, obvious. Dr. Harrison's research shows that 50% use poison to kill and asphyxiation comes next, and 75% of female serial killers do it for profit. In this case, money to buy drugs and the lives and consequences be damned.

[00:45:43] They kill the people closest to them.

[00:45:46] Our mother, two attorneys, to the victims' families, she still continued to lie, which is a sinned court of Christian.. Another huge decision Velma had to choose, lethal injection or gas chamber. The process for both was explained with Velma selecting lethal injection. She would be given sodium pentathol to put her to sleep, then a paralyzing agent would

[00:48:22] stop her heart.

[00:48:24] Execution was six and joking. Waiting for Jimmy Little to arrive, she was nervous as her makeup and hair rollers hadn't arrived yet. She was watching an ABC news program which ran an interview with her and Little, and she told the guards that they were filing a motion and she'd be granted to stay while

[00:49:43] the court looked into the issues. not been raised previously. This legal foundation had only resulted from a 1983 Supreme Court ruling. If the judge did not grant this day, they would go to the state Supreme Court. That failing, they'd go back to Judge Dupree in federal court and then to the Fourth Circuit Court again. And if all that failed visible to witnesses for approximately ten minutes before the execution began. She'd be administered the drugs, go to sleep, or heart would stop, there would be no pain. Thursday the family checked into a hotel a mile from the prison. Ronnie would join them

[00:52:20] later that night.

[00:52:22] They'll have had chicken and dunglings dinner, Barr thought he had won over one judge, Jay Dixon Phillips, but he needed one of the other two. Judge Francis Orhagen or James Sprouse. But from the questions

[00:53:42] they asked, he was doubtful, and he was right. The Fourth Circuit denied Velma's guards heard the news and hurried back to death watch. They were having an execution. While Velma was calm and collected, the rest of her guards were strained and nervous, more affected by Velma's decision to drop her final appeal than she was. Outside, reporters, satellite trucks, protesters from both camps gathered with signs, chanting,

[00:55:06] and passion. immediately after Kim had left the bathroom earlier. Now wait, years later, Kim admitted to smoking weed, but was not using it at this time. And she balked that that was not hers. Rice announced that he was denying them the final visit with Velma. Ronnie went crazy, leaping up saying that he was not going to stand for this. He and

[00:56:23] his sister had to see their mother fun memories from childhood. Velma was so proud of her kids, tearing up and apologizing again for embarrassing them. And then it was time for them to go. It's changing, I love yous, sobs, uggs. Ronnie finally got Kim off their mule, and then looked...

[00:57:41] Whoa!

[00:57:42] Oh, okay.

[00:57:45] Deathwatch was now Maros.

[00:58:45] and I admire that, but it doesn't change anything." Alice Storms remarked, quote,

[00:58:48] I think there are four kinds of death, natural causes, accidents, a life that is taken without

[00:58:54] permission and execution.

[00:58:57] Balma Barfield deserves to be executed.

[00:59:00] She literally pulled the switch orders, end quote? There were none. Hooking up the execution cocktail, three executioners pressed plungers releasing the flow into Velma.

[01:00:21] One of the tubes was fake, hoping to be hurt in the process, end quote. Her sister Sylvia added, quote, finally justice has been done, but the pain

[01:01:43] of how my father died will always be with me. Our was filled with anger, deciding she needed counseling. Two years later, her marriage failed, and she and Dennis would share custody of their girls. By 1997, Kim had a new managerial job with a large company, owned her own home, and had a new bow. She picked up her life, and she awkwardness eventually faded. Ronnie apologized to the young man his son had grown into, for being irresponsible, for treating him and his mother the way he had. Ronnie was ashamed and he vowed he would do better, and Michael accepted, and they would do better. Ronnie now began to process how he felt about Velma and the murders of his father, grandmother,

[01:04:24] and other manipulation.

[01:05:40] Feeling inadequate, they develop a strong need for control.

[01:05:44] Raised in a tense abuse at home,

[01:05:46] several psychologists would describe in letters, TV interviews, writing famous evangelicals who can take up your cause for you on the outside. She wanted to live, so there was a method to her madness. Does a religious epiphany negate six murders? Absolutely not. She's a serial killer. A jury of her peers determined that she should died by a fire she set, she told Ronnie, quote, I'd rather have him here drinking than dead, end quote, a lie. She played victim all along poor Velma. That is cold, cunning manipulation. She knew Ronnie suspected she killed his father, but Ronnie dropped it, blocking it all. It's great that she was able to help others while in prison, but it makes not one Iota difference to those she murdered. They are still dead. I am not without compassion. You heard me break down just telling you this story, and I do believe that people can change, but she cannot resurrect the dead while denying her culpability.

[01:09:44] Velma Bullard-Bark Barfield is an evicted. and find one new person to listen to an episode. Let's grow, grow, grow. And our next book, Solving the West Georgia Murder of Wendell and Moore, A Cry from the Well by Clay Bryant, and, Clay's newly released book, The Cold Case Murder of Fred Wilkerson, Untangling the Black Widow's Web in West Georgia.

[01:11:02] Author Clay Bryant, an investigator,

[01:11:05] has a remarkable personal story, Thanks again for listening to True Crime by Indie Drop-In Network. If you would like to nominate a True Crime podcast to be featured, just send me a tweet at Indie Drop-In. I'd also love to hear if one of our featured podcasts is now your favorite show. Indie Drop-In survives off ad revenue and listener donations. If you would like to contribute, please consider buying me a coffee.

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