Velma Barfield American serial killer. Date of Birth: 29.10.1932 Country: USA

Biography of Velma Barfield

Velma Margie Barfield, born Margie Velma Ballard on October 29, 1932, in a rural area of South Carolina, grew up near Fayetteville, North Carolina. Raised in a tumultuous household, Velma witnessed her father's abuse towards her mother, Lillian Bullard. Frustrated with her mother's inability to protect herself, Velma eventually ran away in 1949 and married Thomas Burke. The couple had two children and lived happily until Velma underwent a hysterectomy and began experiencing severe back pain. These physical struggles led to her becoming addicted to drugs. Thomas turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, blaming Velma for his drinking. In April 1969, Thomas passed away while Velma and the children were not home. Upon their return, they discovered their house burned down and Thomas dead. A few months later, Velma's new home was also set on fire, but this time she received insurance money.

In 1970, Velma married Jennings Barfield, a widower who died less than a year after their wedding due to heart complications. Velma became a widow for the second time. In 1974, Velma's mother unexpectedly fell ill with diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea, which subsided after a few days. Approximately two months later, a man Velma had met also died in a fatal car accident. During the Christmas season of that year, Velma's mother experienced a similar episode, resulting in her death a few hours after arriving at the hospital.

In 1976, Velma began caring for an elderly couple, Montgomery and Dollie Edwards. Montgomery fell ill during the winter of the same year and passed away. A month later, Dollie exhibited identical symptoms to Velma's mother and also died. Velma later confessed to Dollie's murder. While caring for 76-year-old Record Lee in 1977, her husband John Henry experienced acute abdominal pain, accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. He died, and Velma later admitted to his murder.

Another victim of Velma's was Stuart Taylor, Dollie Edwards' boyfriend and relative. Fearing that Taylor would discover her forgery of his signature on a check and the subsequent depletion of his account, Velma laced his beer and tea with rat poison containing cyanide. Taylor died on February 3, 1978, while Velma allegedly attempted to treat him herself. Autopsy results revealed the presence of cyanide in Taylor's body, leading to Velma's arrest. Jennings Barfield's body was exhumed, revealing traces of cyanide. However, Velma denied involvement in her second husband's death. She later confessed to murdering her own mother and was sentenced to death.

While on death row, Velma presented herself as a devout Christian and interacted with evangelical preachers. Among her supporters were Rex Humbard and Billy Graham. However, Velma later admitted to pretending to be a Christian. Before her execution, she spent several years ministering to fellow inmates, earning praise from Billy Graham. After her appeal to the Federal Court was denied, Velma instructed her lawyers to abandon plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Velma Barfield was executed on November 2, 1984, at Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina. Prior to her execution, she made a statement expressing remorse for the pain caused to the families of her victims and thanked those who supported her during her six years on death row. She refused her last meal, settling for a bag of Cheez Doodles and a cup of coffee. At the time of the lethal injection, Velma was wearing a pink pajama and adult diaper. She was buried in a small rural cemetery in North Carolina, near the resting place of her first husband, Thomas Burke.

Her execution caused some political controversy when Governor Jim Hunt, who was running against Jesse Helms for a Senate seat, denied Barfield's clemency request. Hunt lost the election to Helms.

Singer-songwriter Jonathan Byrd, the grandson of Jennings Barfield and his first wife, composed a song called "Velma" on his album "Wildflowers," which touches on the mentioned murders and the investigation process.