Rebecca Barker

Summary

Podcast Summary: Snapped: Women Who Murder – Episode: Rebecca Barker

Introduction

In the December 29, 2024 episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder, hosted by Oxygen, listeners are introduced to the harrowing case of Rebecca Barker—a woman whose life spiraled from a seemingly loving marriage to the cold-blooded murder of her husband, Jerry Barker. This episode delves deep into the complexities of their relationship, the events leading up to the tragic murder, and the unsettling revelations uncovered during the investigation.

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Background of Jerry and Rebecca

The story begins in the quiet town of Rusk, Texas, where Jerry Barker, a 76-year-old truck driver, led a content life centered around his family and career. Born in 1937, Jerry married Frances May Barker in 1957, and together they built a life filled with love and dedication. Jerry’s work as an 18-wheeler driver kept him frequently on the road, but at home, he was a devoted husband and father.

In 2001, their idyllic life was shattered when May died of a heart attack, leaving Jerry devastated and grappling with profound grief. Seeking companionship, Jerry met Rebecca Osborne, a 40-year-old waitress, in 2002. Their connection was immediate, and despite a significant age difference, they quickly became inseparable.

Marriage and Partnership

Rebecca and Jerry’s marriage seemed promising as they ventured into running a general store in Dialville, Texas, in 2008. Rebecca took on multiple roles in the business, handling finances, cooking, and managing the register, while Jerry focused on driving initially but later invested his earnings into the store. This partnership appeared strong for over a decade, with the couple sharing both personal and professional lives.

Cracks in the Relationship

Despite the outward appearance of a happy marriage, underlying tensions simmered beneath the surface. According to Rebecca (02:14), "I love that man, but he pushed me to my limit." Family members later reveal that Jerry became increasingly controlling and isolated Rebecca from his extended family, leading to strained relationships and growing resentment.

The Day of the Murder

On February 26, 2014, the tranquility of Rusk was shattered by a chilling 911 call from Rebecca Barker at 2:30 PM (03:53), where she confessed, "I just shot my husband." The call set off a swift police response, culminating in the discovery of Jerry’s lifeless body in his chair, with evidence suggesting he was asleep at the time of the shooting (06:19).

Investigation and Initial Confession

During the investigation, Rebecca presented a narrative of being pushed to her breaking point by verbal abuse (13:00). She stated, "I love that man, but he pushed me to my limit" (13:00), suggesting that the murder was an act of sudden passion rather than premeditated intent. However, inconsistencies began to emerge, notably the delayed call to 911 and discrepancies in her account of the events.

Revelations of Manipulation and Control

As investigators delved deeper, they uncovered disturbing patterns in Rebecca’s behavior. Family members described her as manipulative and controlling, effectively alienating Jerry from his family (25:10). Additionally, medical reports indicated that Jerry had been overmedicated, raising suspicions that Rebecca may have been tampering with his medications as a precursor to the murder (20:08).

Rebecca's Troubling Past

The investigation took a darker turn when authorities discovered that Rebecca had previously been involved in a shooting incident in 1996, where she shot her first husband, John Osborne (32:11). Although John survived, Rebecca was placed on probation, revealing a troubling pattern of violence and manipulation in her relationships. This history significantly undermined her credibility and suggested a potential motive rooted in financial gain and control.

Trial and Conviction

Faced with mounting evidence, including her prior violent history and the inconsistencies in her statements, Rebecca Barker was charged with first-degree murder. Despite her initial confession, Rebecca attempted to reframe the incident as an accidental discharge during an argument exacerbated by alcohol (40:48). However, toxicology reports contradicted her claims of heavy drinking, and the evidence pointed towards premeditation rather than a spontaneous act.

On October 8, 2014 (43:45), Rebecca pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, acknowledging her intentional role in Jerry’s death. The prosecution highlighted her manipulative nature and financial motives, arguing that the murder was driven by greed and the desire to inherit Jerry’s assets. Ultimately, the jury convicted Rebecca Barker, sentencing her to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 30 years—though the likelihood of parole remains slim (45:21).

Family Reflections and Conclusion

Jerry Barker’s family expressed profound grief and a desire for justice, hoping that Rebecca’s conviction would prevent her from harming others. One family member stated, "I want her to live her whole life remembering what she did, but not freely" (45:26). They also emphasized the importance of recognizing the signs of domestic abuse and intervention to prevent similar tragedies.

Rebecca Barker is currently incarcerated at the Patrick O'Daniel Unit Correctional Facility in Gatesville, Texas, awaiting potential parole in 2044. Her case stands as a stark reminder of the complexities within seemingly stable relationships and the devastating consequences of unchecked manipulation and abuse.

Notable Quotes

• Rebecca Barker on Her Breaking Point (13:00): “I love that man, but he pushed me to my limit.”
• Investor on Rebecca's Motives (31:11): “She stood to gain everything. She would get the store. She would get whatever monies were in the bank...”
• Rebecca's Plea for Forgiveness (45:42): “Jerry was the love of my life. I know I was wrong in shooting Jerry. Most of the bad decisions I made were because of alcohol.”

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Conclusion

The Rebecca Barker episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder meticulously traces the descent from a loving marriage to a calculated act of murder. Through interviews, investigative reports, and family testimonies, the episode paints a comprehensive picture of a woman whose actions were driven by deeper issues of control, manipulation, and possibly financial gain. The case underscores the importance of understanding the signs of domestic distress and the far-reaching impacts of such tragic events on families and communities.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Rebecca Barker]

Best waiting for you.

[Narrator]

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[Rebecca Barker]

Oh my God, I can't look at him.

[Investigator]

He was dead in his chair. She needed help.

[Rebecca Barker]

Oh God what have I done?

[Narrator]

As the dust settles, a seemingly simple narrative takes shape.

[Rebecca Barker]

I love that man, but he pushed me to my limit.

[Detective]

She was saying that he was verbally abusive and he would always put her down.

[Narrator]

But a well kept secret threatens to expose a far darker truth.

[Family Member]

I don't understand why somebody would be able to get away with something like this the first time.

[Investigator]

This is how she handles problems. It was same story, different situation and.

[Narrator]

There are always Two sides to every story.

[Family Member]

She wasn't a nice person. She was pushing the family away.

[Investigator]

She meant to take this man's life and that's exactly what she did.

[Rebecca Barker]

I would just like to tell my side the story. I didn't plan anything. I just snapped.

[Narrator]

About two hours southeast of Dallas, the 6,000 residents of Rusk live in the heart of east Texas.

[Family Member]

Everybody kind of knows who their neighbors are, even though their neighbor lives a half mile away from them. The in town area has like the little diner and stuff. It's a really old town style.

[Narrator]

Just after 2:30pm on February 26, 2014, a rare 911 call comes into dispatch.

[Rebecca Barker]

911, ma'am, I just shot my husband.

[Investigator]

The call was made by Rebecca Barker. She called 911 and reported that she had shot her husband.

[Rebecca Barker]

Okay, ma'am, we have an ambulance that's gonna come and try to help your husband. Oh God, what have I done?

[Narrator]

As authorities rush to the scene, the 911 operator stays on the line with 52 year old Rebecc.

[Rebecca Barker]

Oh my God. Step outside on the front porch. No, I don't want to. I've done the wrong thing. I shot him. I'm so scared.

[Narrator]

The operator alerts the trooper en route that he may be entering a hostile situation.

[Investigator]

The very first thing that they are going to be concerned about is does that shooter still have access to a weapon?

[Narrator]

As he approaches the home, the front door slowly starts to open.

[Investigator]

She cracked the door open. He raised the weapon and ordered her to come out.

[Narrator]

The trooper braces for a standoff, but Rebecca backs down.

[Investigator]

She complied. She came out on the front porch. He was able to go up, get her secured, make sure she didn't have a weapon on her.

[Detective]

She wasn't really talking. She seemed to be distraught. She was shut down. So I wasn't able to speak with her.

[Narrator]

When investigators arrive and enter the home, they quickly find Rebecca's husband, 76 year old Jerry Barker.

[Investigator]

Jerry's body was sitting in his chair, feet were up on the ottoman. That looked like he was still asleep in his easy chair except for the pooling of blood on his chest. When they checked for a pulse, there was none. His body had already begun cooling. They were not able to put a definite time frame, but it was pretty obvious he'd been dead for a little bit.

[Narrator]

Outside, officers inform Rebecca that her husband is deceased and they attempt to get her side of the story.

[Detective]

In a situation like this, what we do start, we just asked them, tell me what happened. Give me your side of what occurred?

[Narrator]

Born in 1937, Rusk native, Jerry Barker's life centered around family and the open road.

[Jerry's Family Member]

Jerry drove an 18 wheeler for a living. He was definitely a hard working guy. He owned his own truck and he drove for a company all across the country.

[Narrator]

In 1957, Jerry married the love of his life, Frances May Barker. They had four children, three boys of their own, plus a son from May's first marriage.

[Family Member]

My grandparents were a perfect couple, and my grandpa raised all four boys because the dad of the oldest son wasn't around.

[Jerry's Family Member]

Jerry loved Mae and he put her up on a pedestal. And that I always thought was great.

[Narrator]

Jerry's work may have kept him on the road, but when he was home, Jerry was all about spending time with his family.

[Family Member]

If he wasn't driving the truck, he was definitely always around. One thing my grandpa taught his kids was how to work on cars because that's what he did and he wanted them to learn too.

[Jerry's Family Member]

Jerry's main thing that he wanted out of life was a happy home. He wasn't trying to conquer the world, he was just trying to conquer his little corner.

[Narrator]

Eventually, May and Jerry's boys grew up and had families of their own. Jerry still loved being on the road, but grandchildren made coming home that much sweeter.

[Family Member]

My grandpa loved when he got off the truck to see, like if grandkids were at the house already. We saw his truck drive up. We're like, you know, pawpaw's here. And we were all excited.

[Narrator]

After over 40 years of marriage, Jerry was looking forward to his golden years with May. But in 2001, those dreams suddenly disappeared when May suffered a fatal heart attack. The entire family was overcome with grief, but no one more so than Jerry.

[Family Member]

The only life that he knew was with her. Having her gone, I don't think that he was able to really grasp it. I think that he felt a huge empty feeling.

[Narrator]

Jerry tried to take solace on the road, but no matter how many miles he logged, he always returned home with a heavy heart. Then in 2002, the 64 year old Met 40 year old waitress Rebecca Osborne.

[Family Member]

That's how they met, because he was a customer at her cafe when she at one time apparently had talked to him and they started to flirt.

[Narrator]

Rebecca was a divorcee with two grown children of her own.

[Jerry's Family Member]

Rebecca was 20 years younger than him, and I think probably the first attraction was she was just kind to him and he playfully flirted back and him and her started going out and started seeing each other.

[Narrator]

Jerry was smitten with the kind waitress.

[Family Member]

It was less than a year after he had lost my grandma that Rebecca was there. So to me, that seemed fast. But I just figured maybe because of his age, things were a little different.

[Jerry's Family Member]

He said to us, y'all don't understand how hard it's been since May died. And to have somebody to be around helps fill that void. I'm not so lonely.

[Narrator]

For the next six years, Rebecca frequently joined Jerry on the road. But by 2008, he decided to change lanes. He quit driving a truck and bought a general store in nearby Dialville.

[Jerry's Family Member]

And so he sold his 18 wheeler and he took that money and he invested it into a store.

[Narrator]

In love and inseparable, Rebecca and Jerry relished working side by side.

[Investigator]

She cooked, worked back in the cafe. She would run the register. She did the finances and the books.

[Jerry's Family Member]

Jerry wasn't very business wise, but he was a good hearted man. Everybody in the little community right there knew him and said, hello, how you doing, Jerry?

[Narrator]

For more than five years, Jerry and Rebecca ran the store. It appeared that Jerry would enjoy his golden years after all with Rebecca. But on the afternoon of February 26, 2014, after 12 years of marriage, Gerry Barker is dead from a gunshot wound to the chest. And Rebecca has just confessed to pulling the trigger.

[Investigator]

They found a bullet in the floor in front of the couch. There was also a bullet in the chair that had been fired through the center of his chest and came out his lower back. There was only one entry wound and one exit wound.

[Medical Examiner]

Police said that immediately they could tell he had been shot by someone who seemed to be standing above him.

[Investigator]

They did locate a ruger.357 that was later confirmed by Rebecca Barker is having been the murder weapon that she used to shoot Jerry Barker.

[Narrator]

Even though they know how Jerry died and who killed him, the scene doesn't answer the biggest question weighing on investigators minds.

[Medical Examiner]

They know going into it what happened. The question they have now is why.

[Narrator]

Coming up, Rebecca offers up her side.

[Detective]

She was saying that he was verbally abusive. He would always say, like in her words, these awful, battleful things to her.

[Rebecca Barker]

I love that man, but he pushed me to my limit.

[Narrator]

Investigators find reason to believe there's more to this story.

[Medical Examiner]

Rebecca had waited over an hour before even calling police.

[Investigator]

Now we need to see if we can figure that out. Was there more of a justification? Is this cold blooded killing? Is this person evil?

[Narrator]

Within hours of her 911 call, investigators in Rusk, Texas, are eager to learn why Rebecca Barker shot and killed her husband Jerry.

[Investigator]

Was there more of a justification? Is this cold blooded killing. Is this person evil?

[Narrator]

Just before the interview starts, Rebecca requests medical attention.

[Medical Examiner]

She lets them know that she had taken one of Jerry's blood pressure pills and she's not feeling so well.

[Detective]

Hey, what's going on, Beck?

[Rebecca Barker]

I'm. When did you take the medicine? I just took a blood pressure pill.

[Narrator]

When?

[Rebecca Barker]

About 1:30.

[Investigator]

She took the blood pressure pill after she shot Jerry, trying to calm her nerves because my.

[Rebecca Barker]

My heart was just beating so bad.

[Narrator]

Ems clears Rebecca to go ahead with the interview. When it begins, Rebecca quickly reveals she and Jerry had been fighting non stop about their business venture.

[Medical Examiner]

The store is a source of strife in their relationship. She and Jerry were together all the time. They fought about it constantly.

[Rebecca Barker]

Yeah, he makes me cook for all these people and I have to run the register and run back and forth and back and forth.

[Detective]

Does he help at all?

[Rebecca Barker]

He goes to Walmart.

[Detective]

That's it. Okay.

[Narrator]

Rebecca paints a portrait of a woman at her breaking point. She takes investigators back to that morning which the couple spent arguing at home.

[Investigator]

So Wednesday morning they get up and Rebecca tells him, I'm not going to work again. It's basically all on you. I just don't want to.

[Rebecca Barker]

And I didn't want to go in.

[Narrator]

So he didn't go in either? No. Rebecca says this set Jerry off.

[Rebecca Barker]

He told me that I was a bitch and he wanted a divorce. And I'm just trying to do the best I can with this man.

[Detective]

Do you know what statement he made.

[Rebecca Barker]

That pushed you over? Or is it just a whole bunch? That's the whole ten punch.

[Narrator]

Rebecca claims that Jerry's harsh words are nothing new.

[Detective]

She was saying that he was verbally abusive and he would always pick on her. He would always just. Just put her down and, and say like in her words, these awful, God awful things to her. When did he start his verbal abuse? Today?

[Rebecca Barker]

First thing when he woke up.

[Detective]

Just right off the bat?

[Rebecca Barker]

Yes.

[Investigator]

He had just been on her since the minute he woke up. That he was just in, in her direct quotes, bitching and bitching and bitching at her.

[Rebecca Barker]

He's pushed me to the limit and I've tried to tell. I said, baby, please don't push me no more. I can't do it anymore. Then he called me all kinds of ugly words and ugly names. He was griping and griping and griping. I just did it.

[Investigator]

Stood up and went on.

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Barker]

Oh, God. Where was the gun located when you got up? It was under the couch.

[Narrator]

Is that where y'all kept it?

[Rebecca Barker]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

So he took the Gun.

[Jerry's Family Member]

How many times did he shoot?

[Rebecca Barker]

Once.

[Narrator]

Where was he when you shot him?

[Rebecca Barker]

His chair.

[Detective]

Is he asleep or awake?

[Rebecca Barker]

Just wanker.

[Jerry's Family Member]

Did he know you had the gun with you?

[Rebecca Barker]

No.

[Narrator]

No. You didn't see it?

[Rebecca Barker]

We just kept on, on.

[Narrator]

Were you standing or sitting when you shot?

[Rebecca Barker]

Standing. I love that man, but he pushed me to my limit. I mean, he really did, and I can't believe what I did.

[Narrator]

Investigators consider Rebecca's story.

[Investigator]

We start looking at a claim for sudden passion. You know, did this happen in the heat of the moment? Did it arise to that level where legally she could claim that? So it's more manslaughter than it is cold blooded intentional murder.

[Narrator]

Rebecca's demeanor during the interview is certainly indicative of a woman pushed to the brink.

[Investigator]

She's very animated, putting her head down on the table, throwing her head back, throwing her arms around.

[Narrator]

But that sudden changes when authorities leave the room.

[Investigator]

All of a sudden, those histrionics stop. She goes dead calm. Just sitting around, looking around like you and I are. There's no emotion. I don't believe that Rebecca realized she was being video recorded. All of us were kind of sitting back looking at each other, thinking, okay, this is not normal.

[Narrator]

When investigators review Rebecca's statement, they find another red flag about a small yet critical piece of information in Rebecca's timeline of events.

[Rebecca Barker]

I just took a blood pressure pill.

[Medical Examiner]

When about 1/3.

[Investigator]

Rebecca tells Law enforcement that she took the blood pressure medication that was Jerry's. About 1:30 after she shot Jerry. After that, we know that a call was made by Rebecca Barker. She had tried to get ahold of her best friend. They talked for about 10 minutes or so. Then he tells her, you need to call law enforcement. You need to call 911. You need to do the right thing. And then around 2:45 is when she makes the call to 911.

[Medical Examiner]

Rebecca had waited over an hour before even calling police. By the time police arrived, there was nothing they could do for him. He was long gone.

[Narrator]

The case is far from closed, but Rebecca isn't walking away a free woman.

[Detective]

When I went in and explained to her that she was being placed under arrest at this time, she didn't say anything. She just went ahead and did what she's told.

[Narrator]

Investigators turn to the report from the medical examiner. Based on the markings around the wound, he confirms that Jerry was shot at a close distance.

[Investigator]

The shooter was within three feet of the body when the gun was shot. And we know that the bullet came from up above and went down at an angle through the body. And went into the chair back behind him and he was dead very, very quickly. He would have bled out in a matter of minutes.

[Narrator]

But one crucial finding in the report will cast even more doubt on Rebecca's version of events.

[Investigator]

Looking at that wound and the trajectory of the bullet, it appeared to him that his arms were crossed over his stomach and the bullet passed through the forearm as it went into the chest. And then as the body went slack, his arms fell. So medical examiner was able to infer by putting all of that evidence together that Gerry Barker was asleep when he was shot.

[Narrator]

Coming up, Rebecca's story continues to unravel.

[Family Member]

It did seem like she had brainwashed him. She controlled everything that he did.

[Narrator]

And a family comes forward with shocking allegations.

[Investigator]

They believed he was in a situation where he was in danger and so adult protective services stepped in.

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[Narrator]

Rebecca Barker claims she shot her husband Jerry during a heated argument that pushed Rebecca to her breaking point. But the medical examiner's report tells a different story.

[Investigator]

He's leaned back in his chair. His feet are up on that ottoman with the ankles crossed. And then once that bullet goes through him and the body relaxes, he's found with his hands down by his sides, palms up.

[Narrator]

The evidence indicates that jerry was asleep when he was shot.

[Medical Examiner]

It almost looked like she waited until that moment when he would be off guard to take that chance and shoot him.

[Investigator]

It looked like there's not even an argument going on. She didn't have a self defense claim. She didn't have a sudden passion claim.

[Narrator]

So why did Rebecca barker shoot the man she claimed to love? Determined to get to the bottom of what happened, investigators speak with jerry's family. They are reeling from the news of the beloved patriarch's death.

[Jerry's Family Member]

It's not so much when a person dies, but how they die that bothers you the most. And this was a hard one to accept.

[Narrator]

Jerry's family says once he hooked up with Rebecca, the family gave her the benefit of the doubt.

[Investigator]

Here's this pretty young woman, much younger than him, that's very interested in him, made him happy, probably made him feel young again. And so they tried to be accepting.

[Narrator]

But when jerry told his family he had married rebecca, they found themselves at odds with jerry's new bride.

[Jerry's Family Member]

I would call jerry. She would pick up sometimes, and she'd be like, he can't come to the phone or whatever.

[Family Member]

When I called, she would say, I'll give him the message. He's busy. He's always busy. Every situation where I tried to, you know, get to do something to organize a date, she would tell me that it wasn't possible.

[Jerry's Family Member]

Rebecca was shutting everybody out. She was putting distance between everybody, and jerry didn't see that part of it. Jerry felt everybody was ganging up on rebecca. It became strange with the family. There wasn't that close connection anymore.

[Family Member]

I thought the relationship between them was going to be a short lived thing because she was so much younger and she wasn't a nice person.

[Narrator]

As the years passed, things got worse.

[Family Member]

She was just not willing to meet or do anything with us at all. She pushed most of the people in the family away, and only a couple were able to go around. It did seem like she had brainwashed him because she controlled everything that he did, and she controlled everybody he talked to.

[Jerry's Family Member]

Jerry's sons were really upset about it. You have a wife that's their age and they worry about you, and they don't get to see you as much.

[Narrator]

A few months before the murder, Jerry began to openly question his future with rebecca.

[Medical Examiner]

Their relationship clearly wasn't going well. There was a lot of problems they.

[Investigator]

Were fighting a lot as it goes on, and time rocks on, and things get more tense. Around September, early October of 2013, Jerry has started voicing to both Rebecca and to others in the community and to his family that he wants a divorce.

[Jerry's Family Member]

I honestly believe Jerry told her he wanted a divorce, and she was upset. It was his house, and he was planning to leave her and split with her.

[Narrator]

But what really got the attention of family and friends was Jerry's sudden decline in health.

[Medical Examiner]

Jerry was on several medications because he had had a horrible accident not too long before his murder where a tractor had actually rolled over him and broke some of his ribs.

[Investigator]

Some days he'd be lucid in talking, and then the next day at the store, he's basically sitting there catatonic and drooling on himself, which was completely unlike him.

[Family Member]

He seemed to be weak and under the influence of something that made him unaware of his surroundings. For the most part, that raised a red flag for me. I had gotten word that she was giving him extra medication, that it was his own medication. She was giving him extra to make him be. To make it to where he wasn't aware.

[Investigator]

Jerry had actually made comments to people in the months leading up to the murder that he believed Rebecca was trying to kill him by messing with his medication.

[Narrator]

When Jerry's family confronted Rebecca, she became unhinged.

[Family Member]

I told her in one of the phone calls that I said, I'm just gonna go visit. And she had gotten mad at that phone call and said, no, you don't show up on my property. I'm like, but it's my grandpa. I'm gonna show up over there to see him. And she said, if you do, I'll shoot you.

[Narrator]

Unable to see Jerry or reason with Rebecca, his family and friends turned to the authorities.

[Investigator]

Multiple reports were made that friends and family believed he was in a situation where he was in danger. And so adult protective services stepped in.

[Medical Examiner]

They had been called to the store just two weeks before Jerry's murder on a report that he was over medicated. But by the time they got there, it seemed like he was fine. So there wasn't really much they could do.

[Narrator]

Jerry was irate. Even though he had his own suspicions when it came to Rebecca, he made it clear he didn't want his family or friends messing around in his business.

[Family Member]

I got a call from him, and he was yelling at me and telling me that I had embarrassed him in front of all of his customers by pulling something like that.

[Narrator]

Jerry's loved ones weren't going to let it Go.

[Family Member]

I had talked with my dad, and we decided that what we would do is figure out a way to get my grandpa and bring him to our place. That was our plan, whether he wanted to or not.

[Narrator]

But before they could act on it, they got the call that Jerry was dead. The information from the Barker family casts new light on the investigation.

[Medical Examiner]

So there are a lot of questions within Rebecca and Jerry's relationship. Rebecca is often saying one thing while his family is saying something else.

[Narrator]

Investigators theorize that if Rebecca was switching out Jerry's meds, that could have been her first attempt to kill him.

[Investigator]

We believed that she was trying to kill him through the medication because it's harder to trace. And when that didn't work fast enough, she shot him.

[Narrator]

But if Rebecca did plan Jerry's murder.

[Investigator]

Why, of course, we're thinking about financial. Because as we all know, one of the guiding principles to human behavior, unfortunately, is greed.

[Narrator]

If she divorced Jerry, Rebecca would have to share. But if Jerry died, all of it would be hers.

[Investigator]

Rebecca stood to gain everything. She would get the store. She would get whatever monies were in the bank, whatever investments he had, Whatever retirement he had, she would get the home.

[Narrator]

Investigators continue to dig, taking a deep dive into Rebecca's past. They are shocked to learn that when Rebecca and Jerry married in 2002, Rebecca was on probation for a major offense.

[Medical Examiner]

This wasn't Rebecca's first brush with the law. She had been in trouble almost 20 years before Jerry's murder.

[Investigator]

I was absolutely incredulous when I found it out. We were just flabbergasted.

[Narrator]

Coming up, investigators uncover a disturbing pattern of behavior.

[Investigator]

Same story, different situation.

[Family Member]

She had previously been in trouble for trying to kill her husband before him.

[Narrator]

And Rebecca responds to the allegations.

[Rebecca Barker]

Jury's family said a lot of things throughout our marriage that just weren't true.

[Narrator]

While investigators in Rusk, Texas, dive deeper into possible motives for the murder of Gerry Barker, they learn that in 1996, Rebecca Barker had been linked to another shooting, this one involving her first husband, John Osborne.

[Investigator]

When law enforcement runs a criminal history, they find out she did have something involving a weapon and involving a shooting in her past.

[Medical Examiner]

When you hear about that, you think this is a pattern of behavior. It definitely raises some questions.

[Narrator]

Authorities reach out to their counterparts in Liberty County, Texas. They speak with investigator Ivan Pierce, who responded to the 911 call the night John Osborne was shot.

[Detective]

April 15, 1996. Shortly before midnight, I got a call of a shooting in the unincorporated portion of Liberty County. The victim been shot several times while he was sitting In a recliner in his living room.

[Narrator]

The caller was Rebecca's teenage daughter.

[Investigator]

Rebecca has two children from a previous relationship, A son and a daughter. Son is out of the home. Her daughter Marcia is living in the home and is 17 years old. Marsha was the one to give the first information to first responders when they got to the house and started giving life saving measures to John.

[Detective]

She was visibly upset, not knowing really what had happened or who did it.

[Narrator]

To gain more insight on the shooting, officers examined the crime scene.

[Detective]

It was from a large caliber. We could tell that from the projectiles. There was appeared to be bullet holes in the window. From behind the recliner, it appeared that the shooter was right outside of the window.

[Narrator]

After unpacking the crime scene, investigators focused their efforts on finding out who shot John and why.

[Detective]

We learned early on in the investigation that John and Rebecca were getting divorced. I spoke with Rebecca's brother. He informed me that he had a.45 caliber pistol, but he could not locate it. He had understood that Rebecca was supposed to be coming to Liberty with a lawyer to turn herself in on the case.

[Narrator]

Rebecca didn't appear until two days later.

[Detective]

So on April 18th at about 10:30am Rebekah Osborne did appear at my office.

[Narrator]

Rebecca explained that on the afternoon of the shooting, John called her with the sole intention of upsetting her.

[Investigator]

John and Rebecca have been having problems, mainly related to her drinking. John has indicated he wants a divorce. Rebecca called Marcia and said, would you come and live with me? And Marsha told her, no, I'm not going to live with you. I want to live with John. Well, this set Rebecca off. She shot him, I believe, two times, both in the back of the head. And then she left.

[Narrator]

Rebecca's first husband was far luckier than Jerry.

[Investigator]

Just by the grace of God, he survived. And the quick thinking of his stepdaughter.

[Detective]

I had met with John, he was still in the hospital and informed him that Rebecca had confessed to shooting him. He was emotional about it himself. I mean, nobody wants to believe your spouse would do that.

[Narrator]

But investigator Pierce tells detectives that it wasn't long before John changed his tune.

[Medical Examiner]

Rebecca's previous husband seems to kind of feel bad for Rebecca, doesn't want her to go to jail.

[Detective]

He wanted Rebecca to get some help. His main focus was for her to get some help for her drinking problem.

[Investigator]

When you have a situation like that, it just makes it very, very difficult for prosecution. And at that point, the district attorney works out the best deal that they can.

[Detective]

The judge gave her 10 years probation, 180 days of that was locked up in the county jail.

[Narrator]

To Cherokee county sheriff investigators, Rebecca's shocking past displays a pattern.

[Investigator]

This is how she handles problems. It was same story, different situation. It was. She was being threatened with divorce. She was going to lose what she believed to be hers. She thought she was justified in taking a life, and so she did.

[Family Member]

I don't understand why somebody would be able to get away with something like this the first time she should have been able to start any kind of relationship with my grandpa with that being her past.

[Narrator]

When detectives circle back to Rebecca with all of this new information, she begins by denying Jerry's family's allegations.

[Rebecca Barker]

They never wanted Jerry and I to even get married. I don't know if it was because it was too soon for him to remarry. All I know is they just didn't like it. I was not manipulating his medications. Sometimes Jerry would forget what he was taking, and I think it was too strong.

[Narrator]

Rebecca says she never kept Jerry from his family. It was Jerry who didn't want anything to do with them.

[Rebecca Barker]

They would call the house and want to talk to Jerry, and I would say, babe, so and so's on the phone. And he'd say, I don't want to talk to him.

[Narrator]

Rebecca also denies threatening to shoot Jerry's granddaughter Wendy, if she showed up on their property.

[Rebecca Barker]

That's not true. I never met the granddaughter. She wouldn't come to the house, and I don't understand why. Jerry's family said a lot of things throughout our marriage that just weren't. That weren't true.

[Narrator]

Rebecca claims the trouble in their relationship really began when Jerry wanted to open a general store.

[Rebecca Barker]

He said, I think we could handle a little small mom and pop grocery store. So that. And that's what he wanted. We never had time for the house anymore. We never had time for a life anymore. It was always the store. A lot of things that started building up between. Not just the tension between Jerry and I, but something changed with Jerry. And I don't know if it were. If it was the medication that the doctor kept changing him on, but he just. He started changing, and I didn't know him anymore.

[Narrator]

While her rebuttal to the family's accusations may seem plausible, after three days of being in police custody, Rebecca offers a new account of Jerry's death that throws police for a loop.

[Investigator]

She sends out a note to detectives that she has something very important she needs to tell them.

[Narrator]

Coming up, Rebecca's story takes a sharp turn.

[Investigator]

She says nobody was mad. They'd been Getting along, that it was a big accident.

[Narrator]

And Rebecca fights for her freedom again.

[Rebecca Barker]

I got scared. I did. I said, maybe, maybe if I tell him that they'll let me go. I can go home.

[Narrator]

After being arrested for her husband's murder, Rebecca Barker requests to speak to the Cherokee County Sheriff's investigators again.

[Investigator]

So a few days after Rebecca Barker. Barker has given her first statement to law enforcement, she's still sitting in jail. She says, I have something I have to get off my chest. She says that Jerry is her best friend, that nobody was angry, nobody was mad. They've been getting along, that it was a big accident.

[Narrator]

Rebecca says they were watching an old western and drinking heavily when she began horsing around and took it too far.

[Investigator]

She's standing up, playing around with the loaded weapon. And she said, hey, look at me. I'm Marshall Dillon. And he said, don't do that. You need to put the gun down. Startled her, and the gun went off.

[Rebecca Barker]

I told him, I said, it was an accident. We were watching TV and we were playing with a gun. I got scared. I did. I said, maybe, Maybe if I tell them that, they'll let me go. I can go home, try to make things right.

[Narrator]

To investigators, Rebecca's accident story is far too little, too late.

[Rebecca Barker]

I don't know. I just. I snapped. I didn't plan anything. I just snapped, and I just went and got the gun and I just shot him.

[Narrator]

Rebecca's claims of heavy drinking are also.

[Investigator]

Quickly ruled out in toxicology. And looking at that, his blood alcohol level was minimalistic at best. So we know that part's not true. She meant to take this man's life, and that's exactly what she did. She was charged with first degree murder at that point.

[Narrator]

While prosecutors ready their case, Rebecca spends the next seven months awaiting trial. On October 8, 2014, Rebecca takes a plea.

[Investigator]

Rebecca Barker actually comes in and pleads guilty to first degree murder. So knowing and intentionally causing the death of Gerry Barker is what she tells the judge she is guilty of.

[Narrator]

Despite her willingness to accept responsibility, Rebecca elects for a jury trial to determine her punishment.

[Rebecca Barker]

The reason that I went to trial for sentencing was my attorney said, the DA is offering you 40 years. And I said, 40 years.

[Jerry's Family Member]

No way.

[Rebecca Barker]

There's no way.

[Narrator]

With a sentencing deal off the table In November of 2014, prosecutors come out swinging.

[Investigator]

When you look at who Rebecca Barker is, at the totality of who she is and what she's chosen to do in her life, Rebecca is greedy, she's devious, she's controlling, she's Manipulative, she's underhanded, she's ruthless.

[Narrator]

And it's clear that the damning portrait was plausible to a jury. When they determine Rebecca Barker should spend the rest of her life behind bars.

[Investigator]

They decided that they did not want her walking the streets. Now she has the potential after 30 years to go up for parole, but her chances of getting it, even if she's an absolute model prisoner the first time she's eligible, are slim to none.

[Narrator]

For Gerry Barker's family, the punishment is as it should be.

[Family Member]

I don't want her to be executed. I want her to live her whole life remembering what she did, but not freely. I don't want her to have any kind of freedom. I want her to be in those walls, and that's the rest of her life.

[Rebecca Barker]

Jerry was the love of my life. I know I was wrong in shooting Jerry. Most of the bad decisions I made were because of alcohol. And that's the first time I've ever said that. If his family could forgive me. I don't know whether they ever can, but I sit and I. And I. And I think of. I wish I could say to them, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I truly am.

[Narrator]

Jerry's family only hopes that others can learn from his story and intervene before it's too late.

[Jerry's Family Member]

I miss Jerry in general. His life was cut short because of an evil person and. But she can't take the memories away.

[Narrator]

Rebecca Barker is currently at the Patrick O'Daniel Unit Correctional Facility in Gatesville, Texas. She will be eligible for parole in 2044 at the age of 82. Did you know that you can make your life saving donation to Doctors Without.

[Investigator]

Borders go even further?

[Narrator]

Whether you donate stock, recommend a grant.

[Rebecca Barker]

Through your donor advised fund, or make.

[Narrator]

An IRA qualified charitable distribution, you can take advantage of strong market performance this.

[Rebecca Barker]

Year to maximize your charitable impact, making.

[Narrator]

It possible for Doctors Without Borders to stay ready to respond in more than 70 countries around the world. Together, we go further explore ways to give at doctors without borders.org podcast.