Podcast Summary: Murder in America – Episode 238

"GEORGIA: 1999 Atlanta Day Trading Massacre: Mark Orrin Barton"

Podcast: Murder In America (Bloody FM)
Hosts: Courtney Shannon & Colin Browen
Date: March 20, 2026

Overview

This harrowing episode of Murder in America revisits the infamous 1999 Atlanta Day Trading Massacre, perpetrated by Mark Orrin Barton. Hosts Courtney Shannon and Colin Browen offer a detailed, empathetic, and chilling walkthrough of Barton's multi-stage spree: from the prelude of a hidden double life and the unresolved murders of his former wife and mother-in-law, through the calculated massacre at two Buckhead day trading firms, to the devastating aftermath for victims, survivors, and the city of Atlanta. The episode is marked by vivid survivor accounts, extensive background on the victims, and a careful examination of how systemic failures contributed to the tragedy.

Episode Structure & Key Discussion Points

1. Recap of Part One & Prelude to the Massacre

• Background on Mark Barton: Outwardly successful family man with a dark, manipulative personality and a history of destructive decisions (04:16).
• Unresolved Murders (1993): Barton's first wife Debra and her mother Eloise were brutally murdered, with Barton as the top suspect but never charged. “Mark walked away with nearly $300,000 from Debra's life insurance policy. He used that money to get into day trading during the dot com boom." (04:42)
• Barton's Downward Spiral: Obsession with day trading, mounting financial losses, mental instability.
• Lead-In to 1999 Massacre: After killing his family, Barton sets out to target former colleagues at two Atlanta day trading firms (05:47).

2. The Setting: Atlanta's Day Trading World – Summer 1999

• Dot-Com Era Excitement: Atmosphere in Buckhead's Piedmont Center—hotbed of speculative trading (07:05).
• Firms Involved: All-Tech Investment Group and Momentum Securities.
• Intense, Competitive Culture: “It feels like a casino floor, but with stock tickers instead of slot machines…everyone chasing the same thing.” – Colin Browen (07:55)

3. The Massacre at Momentum Securities

(Detailed narrative of the attack and its immediate aftermath)

Timestamps: 11:58–35:50

a) Mark Barton’s Arrival

• Barton arrives at Momentum, blending in as a familiar face (11:58).
• Casual, chilling foreshadowing: "Rick, you gonna stick around for the bloodbath this afternoon?" (12:27)

b) Execution of Kevin Dial

• First victim: co-manager Kevin Dial, shot at close range (16:45).
• Moving background on Kevin: brain tumor survivor, beloved leader, “Every day, every minute, every breath, truly is a gift from God.” (17:49)

c) Chaos Erupts

• Barton calmly stalks the trading floor, firing at random. “He held out both guns like a villain in an old movie… firing at anyone in his path.” (19:23)
• Survivor Andrew Zaporizola: “I’m lying there, I’m keeping my eyes closed because I’m trying to move as little as possible to make sure he doesn’t come back and shoot me again.” (20:44)

d) Other Victims

• Edward Quinn: Newly minted grandfather, shot through the neck (21:37).
• Russell Brown: Compassionate, family-oriented man, shot while crawling for safety (23:43).
• Scott Webb: “He was such a nice young man and always had time for a beautiful smile.” — neighbor (27:43).
• Brad Chomel: Survived three close-range gunshots by playing dead (29:15).

e) Survivor Heroism

• Glenn Miller and Joe Skipper barricade themselves as Barton tries to break in, then fires rounds through the door (24:56–26:54).
• Desperate, “I was ready to jump out of that third story window. It was all surreal.” – Glenn Miller (26:57)

f) The 911 Call

• Tense, confused emergency from a neighboring office: “There's a maniac on the loose. Suite 300. He's shooting people.” — Brad Chomel (31:16)
• Police respond within minutes; Barton has already fled (35:04).

4. Second Attack: Altech Investment Group

Timestamps: 35:50–60:56

a) Barton Walks In

• Calm and collected, Barton enters Altech across the street, exchanging pleasantries despite visible blood stains (37:27).

b) The Office Slaughter

• In a chilling prelude, he cryptically says, “Today is going to be visual.” (40:09)
• Shoots co-managers Brent Doonan and Scott Manspeaker, and assistant Kathy Van Camp.
• Survivor heroism: A gravely wounded Brent slams Barton, saving coworker Nell Jones by disrupting his aim at the critical moment (43:49).

c) Mass Panic & Additional Victims

• Altech trading floor erupts in chaos—gunfire, people diving under desks, screams fill the air.
• Notable survivors and victims:
  • Fred Herder: Shot, pretends to be dead under conference table, would carry bullet in his body for life.
  • Youssef Leberson: Miraculously survives gunshots to the skull, left with permanent disabilities.
  • Alan Tenenbaum: Synagogue leader and family man, killed instantly (53:16).
  • Meredith Forrester: Young staff member, severely wounded; survives against all odds (54:36).
  • Dean Delawalla: On his daughter’s birthday, killed while fleeing (55:03).
  • Big Joe Dessert & Jamshid Havash: Both had come to enjoy day trading in retirement or as new immigrants; both lose their lives (56:25–57:20).
  • Vatawadi Muradhara: Trinidadian immigrant, killed while attending a computer class (58:05).

d) Aftermath on the Trading Floor

• Barton exults in twisted power before leaving: “I hope this doesn’t ruin your trading day.” (60:55)

5. The Manhunt, Discovery of Barton's Family, and Barton's Death

Timestamps: 60:56–95:18

a) Hospital Scenes & Survivor Recovery

• Detailed accounts of ER triage, mass casualties, ongoing trauma for survivors.

b) Police Investigation

• All points bulletin for Barton. Discovery of his family's bodies at their apartment, with his chilling confessional notes and prayers left atop each child (80:07–81:22).
• Heartbreaking scene: Matthew and Michelle's friend Tiffany laments their loss in the most childlike, raw terms. (81:52)
  • "I'm mad because now I can't go to Girl Scouts with her... I wish she wasn't even there. I wish she was spending the night with us. It's so stupid." (82:06)

c) City in Lockdown, Final Pursuit

• Atlanta gripped by panic; widespread closures, parents rushing to hold their children (83:00).
• Barton attempts to carjack at a mall; evades police with a near-miss; is finally spotted and tracked by vigilant citizen Manon Smith, who calls 911 after seeing Barton’s minivan (87:45–90:04).

d) Barton's Death

• Surrounded at a BP station, Barton commits suicide with both guns at 7:55 pm (91:31).
• “For four hours, he had been free... and for the last time, he squeezed the triggers. Just like that, it was over.” (92:32)

6. Aftermath: Impact, Blame, and Legacy

Timestamps: 95:18–112:18

a) Victim Legacies & Funerals

• Personal stories of the twelve murdered; deeply human glimpses into their lives cut short.
• Survivors like Brent Doonan and Kathy Van Camp overcome physical and emotional trauma, but with lasting scars (72:13–74:11, 109:04).

b) Searching for Answers & Accountability

• Community outrage at systemic failures: law enforcement missteps, lack of oversight at trading firms, security lapses (99:30–103:06).
• Congressional hearings held, but new regulations come too late for those killed (104:08).
• Survivors and families file lawsuits—ultimately, courts only blame Barton, lawsuits are dismissed.

c) Long Term Trauma & Reflection

• Survivors’ difficult journeys, survivor’s guilt, and lost innocence.
• “Every single day, it's a reminder… I can't forget that day.” – Shala Havash (106:36)
• “At the end of the day, he's dead, I'm alive and I'm moving on.” – Brent Doonan (107:58)
• “Unfortunately, the last thing I saw was Mark Barton’s face.” – Kathy Van Camp (109:44)
• The unending wound left by mass shootings, both individual and societal.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Courtney Brown (on Barton's duality):
  “On the surface, Mark seemed to have it all… But underneath, Mark was deeply troubled… He seemed to always put himself before everything and everyone.” (04:16)

• Brent Doonan (first-hand survivor, in his book):
  “His words and expression did not match his initial jovial and excited demeanor… something was terribly wrong.” (40:33)

• Mark Barton (to the office at the massacre’s end):
  “I hope this doesn’t ruin your trading day.” (60:55)

• Tiffany, friend of Barton’s murdered daughter:
  “I'm mad because now I can't go to Girl Scouts with her. She would whisper things to me when I really needed help with things. I wish she wasn't even there. I wish she was spending the night with us. It's so stupid.” (82:06)

• Nell Jones (on surviving by inches):
  “I can't let go of an illusion that Mark Barton did not really want to kill me… The truth is, he had no reason to favor me.” (74:09)

• Alice Wenzel, Scott Webb’s mother (at the memorial):
  “I'm looking at these pictures and I'm thinking, Scotty is going to call me. He was everything a mother could want.” (105:46)

• Courtney Brown (reflecting on mass shootings):
  “Back in 1999, mass shootings weren’t common like they are today. For many, every time another mass shooting occurs… it’s like ripping off the scab on a wound you so desperately want to heal.” (109:44)

Timeline of Key Events (Timestamps)

| Time | Event | | ------- | ----- | | 04:16 | Barton’s hidden history and 1993 murders recapped | | 07:05 | Atlanta’s day trading scene contextualized | | 11:58 | Barton arrives at Momentum Securities | | 16:45 | Barton shoots Kevin Dial (first fatality) | | 21:37 | Edward Quinn’s death | | 23:43 | Russell Brown killed | | 24:56 | Glenn Miller and Joe Skipper’s escape | | 27:43 | Scott Webb shot, attempting to help | | 29:15 | Brad Chomel shot, survives by playing dead | | 31:16 | First 911 call reporting the attack | | 35:50 | Barton enters Altech Investment Group | | 40:09 | “Today is going to be visual” — beginning of Altech shooting | | 43:49 | Brent Doonan disrupts Barton, saving Nell Jones | | 60:55 | Barton’s callous exit line: “I hope this doesn’t ruin your trading day.” | | 80:07 | Discovery of Barton’s family’s bodies and his notes | | 87:45 | Attempted carjacking at mall; escape | | 91:31 | Final police confrontation and Barton’s suicide | | 95:18 | Listing of victim names and funeral stories | | 102:56 | Mayor Campbell’s eulogy and call to prevent gun violence | | 109:04 | Updates on survivor’s lives years later | | 112:18 | Episode closes with donation in victims’ honor |

Tone & Style

• Empathetic, Vivid, Unflinching: The hosts maintain a respectful but detailed approach, often sharing direct survivor and family quotes, which ground the narrative in human experience.
• Reflective & Critical: Many moments call out systemic failures and reflect on the long shadow of mass shootings—clear, but not sensational, language.
• Narrative-Driven: The episode delivers events cinematically, walking the listener through sights, sounds, and feelings of the day.

Conclusion

This episode stands out for its sensitive, comprehensive retelling of the Atlanta Day Trading Massacre. By centering victims’ lives and survivors’ voices, Courtney and Colin illustrate the generational trauma of mass violence—and ask listeners to remember not just the horror, but the very real people left behind. The episode is both an act of remembrance and a pointed critique of the many cracks in justice and society that allowed Barton’s violence to unfold.

If you or someone you know is struggling with the aftermath of violence or mental illness, the hosts recommend contacting NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

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