{{Short description|American murderer (1962–2023)}} {{Use American English|date=August 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Distinguish|text=James Antonio Barnes, a serial killer based in Tennessee}} {{Infobox criminal | name = James Barnes | image = James P. Barnes.jpg | image_size = | caption = | alt = | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1962|3|7}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|8|3|1962|3|7}} | death_place = Florida State Prison, Florida, U.S. | conviction = {{bulleted list|First degree murder (2 counts)|Possession of a firearm by a felon|Grand theft (3 counts)|Burglary (2 counts)|Armed burglary|Forgery (2 counts)|Trafficking in Stolen Property (2 counts)|Sexual battery (2 counts)|Arson<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/offenderSearch/detail.aspx?Page=Detail&DCNumber=071551&TypeSearch=IR|title=CORRECTIONS OFFENDER NETWORK: INMATE RELEASE INFORMATION DETAIL|website=Florida Department of Corrections}}</ref>}} | sentence = {{bulleted list|Life imprisonment (January 9, 1998)|Death (December 13, 2007)}} | victims = {{bulleted list|Patricia "Patsy" Miller, 41|Linda V. Barnes, 44}} | date = {{ubl|April 20, 1988|December 11, 1997}} | country = United States | states = Florida | apprehended = December 12, 1997 | criminal_status = Executed by lethal injection }}
'''James Phillip Barnes''' (March 7, 1962 – August 3, 2023) was an American murderer and self-identified serial killer who was executed by the state of Florida for the 1988 rape and murder of Patricia Miller.<ref name=":2"/> After converting to Islam and saying that he wanted to clear his conscience, he confessed to the murder in 2005, while already serving a life sentence for the 1997 murder of his wife.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|last=Gallop|first=J.D.|date=June 22, 2023|title=DeSantis signs death warrant for Brevard man convicted of killing Melbourne nurse in 1988|work=Florida Today|url=https://floridatoday.com/story/news/newswire/2023/06/22/desantis-signs-death-warrant-for-brevard-man-who-raped-killed-nurse/70348518007/|access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news|last=Anderson|first=Curt|date=August 4, 2023|title=Florida man who dropped appeals is executed for 1988 hammer killing of a nurse|work=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/florida-execution-phillip-linda-barnes-patsy-miller-ddd049645a792429e70d15819074a164|access-date=August 4, 2023}}</ref>
In 2012, Barnes was featured in the first episode of Werner Herzog's television series ''On Death Row'', in which he was interviewed in 2010 by Herzog at Florida State Prison. He then sent Herzog a written confession to the unsolved murders of Chester Wetmore and Brenda Fletcher in 1986 and 1991, respectively.<ref name="odr">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwx4ZVZA-rE|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/xwx4ZVZA-rE|archive-date=June 24, 2023|url-status=live|title=On death row s01 e01 james barnes|date=October 9, 2019|via=YouTube|access-date=June 28, 2023}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He was not charged in either case.<ref name="fdoc" /><ref name=":2">{{cite news|last=Neale|first=Rick|date=August 3, 2023|title=Florida executes Brevard death row inmate James Barnes | Recap|work=Florida Today|url=https://floridatoday.com/story/news/2023/08/03/live-updates-james-barnes-set-for-execution-at-florida-state-prison-by-lethal-injection-brevard/70511985007/|access-date=August 4, 2023}}</ref>
==Early life== James Phillip Barnes was born on March 7, 1962.<ref name="fdoc">{{cite web|url=https://www.dc.state.fl.us/offenderSearch/detail.aspx?Page=Detail&DCNumber=071551&TypeSearch=AI|title=Inmate Population Information Detail – Inmate 071551|publisher=Florida Department of Corrections|access-date=June 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623051137/http://www.dc.state.fl.us/offenderSearch/detail.aspx?Page=Detail&DCNumber=071551&TypeSearch=AI|archive-date=June 23, 2023}}</ref> He was one of five siblings and had a twin sister, Jeannice. His younger brother Michael committed suicide. It is unknown where exactly Barnes was born, but he referred to his home as Maryland.<ref name="odr" />
==Murders== On April 20, 1988, Barnes invaded the home of Patricia "Patsy" Miller, a 41-year-old nurse, in Melbourne, Florida. He entered through a bedroom window and confronted her at knifepoint before sexually assaulting her. He attacked her with a hammer and bound her with his shoelaces while she was lying face down on the bed. Barnes set fire to her bed in an attempt to conceal the crime before fleeing.<ref name=":3">{{cite news|date=June 22, 2023|title=DeSantis signs death warrant in 1988 Florida rape, murder case|work=Tampa Bay Times|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2023/06/22/florida-execution-date-desantis-death-warrant-james-barnes/|access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> A medical examiner later determined that Miller had died from blunt-force trauma to the head and had been killed before the fire was started. According to investigators, Barnes did not know Miller, and her murder went unsolved.<ref name=":0" />
On December 11, 1997, Barnes strangled his estranged wife, 44-year-old Linda Barnes, at her home in West Melbourne, despite a restraining order that prohibited him from approaching her. After killing his wife, Barnes stuffed her body in a closet and remained at the house.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gallop|first=J.D.|title=Ex-husband signed murder confession, judge says|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-ex-husband-signed-murder-c/127009367/|newspaper=Florida Today|date=December 16, 1997|page=17|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> On December 12, sheriff's deputies arrested Barnes at the house and he was charged with Linda's murder.<ref>{{cite news|title=Husband arrested after wife slain in Brevard|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-husband-arrested-af/127009279/|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=December 14, 1997|page=29|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
==Trial and revelation== On January 9, 1998, Barnes pleaded guilty to murdering Linda and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The death penalty was waived.<ref>{{cite news|last=Moody|first=R. Norman|title=Man receives life in prison for killing wife|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-man-receives-life-in-priso/127262813/|newspaper=Florida Today|date=January 11, 1998|page=26|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
In 2005, Barnes, who had converted to Islam, confessed to the unsolved murder of Patricia Miller while fasting during Ramadan. Barnes sent a letter to the assistant state attorney confessing to the crime. In 1997, DNA evidence was matched to Barnes, and he had been questioned in the case. At the time, he had refused to talk with Brevard County authorities. No charges were filed until an indictment was issued by a Brevard County grand jury. In the letter, Barnes told prosecutors that he wanted to clear his conscience. Barnes said in the letter, "I murdered her [Patricia Miller] so [there] would be no witness or complaint against me."<ref name=":0" />
At his trial for Miller's murder, Barnes waived his right to a jury and represented himself. In 2006, he pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Miller along with burglary, two counts of sexual battery with a weapon and arson. On December 13, 2007, Brevard County circuit court judge Lisa Davidson sentenced Barnes to death.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Summers|first=Keyonna|title=Judge sentences inmate to death|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-judge-sentences-inmate-to/127270096/|newspaper=Florida Today|date=December 14, 2007|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-judge-sentences-inmate-to/127270096/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-prosecutor-calls-slaying/127270275/ 7]|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
==Imprisonment== {{Main|On Death Row}} In 2010, Barnes was interviewed at Florida State Prison by German filmmaker Werner Herzog as part of his television series ''On Death Row''. Six weeks later, Barnes sent a letter to Herzog confessing to the unsolved murders of Chester Wetmore and Brenda Fletcher. He said that he wished to resolve the unresolved crimes he committed before he died.<ref name="odr" /> Police investigated his claims,<ref name="odr" /> but he was not charged with either murder.<ref name="fdoc" /><ref name=":2" />
Barnes claimed that he had first met Wetmore in 1988, describing him as a runaway hooked on crystal meth and crack cocaine. Wetmore had been on the streets for a long time and was making money as a prostitute. He had been listed as a missing person since May 27, 1986.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chester Wetmore | Manatee County Missing Persons|work=Manatee County Sheriff's Office|url=https://manateeso.azurewebsites.net/Public/MissingChesterWetmore#gsc.tab=0|access-date=June 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628224704/https://manateeso.azurewebsites.net/Public/MissingChesterWetmore#gsc.tab=0|archive-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> Barnes claimed that in 1988 Wetmore had stolen his belongings from his car, so Barnes killed Wetmore with a shotgun. He and two accomplices then buried Wetmore's body.<ref name="odr" />
According to Barnes, Fletcher was a prostitute and crack cocaine addict without a family. In 1991, Barnes accused her of having stolen his wallet and demanded the return of his driver's license, but when Fletcher denied the theft, Barnes killed her.<ref name="odr" /> Fletcher's body was discovered on April 2, 1991, in a water-filled drainage ditch in Brevard County. Fletcher had been listed as a missing person at the time of her murder and the last time that she had contact with a family member was on October 22, 1990.<ref>{{cite web|title=Unsolved Homicides | Unsolved Homicide of Brenda Joyce Fletcher|work=Brevard County Sheriff's Office|url=https://www.brevardsheriff.com/home/commands-services/criminal-investigative-services/homicide-unit/unsolved-homicides/|access-date=June 28, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220804172704/https://www.brevardsheriff.com/home/commands-services/criminal-investigative-services/homicide-unit/unsolved-homicides/|archive-date=August 4, 2022}}</ref>
The interview with Barnes aired in 2012 as part of the series premiere.<ref>{{cite web|title=Death Row: Portrait of James Barnes|work=New Zealand International Film Festival|url=https://www.nziff.co.nz/2012/archive/death-row-portrait-of-james-barnes/|access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> It included an interview with his twin sister Jeannice Barnes, but their father declined to be filmed and asked Herzog to tell his son: "One, I love him. Two, I hate the crimes he committed."<ref name="odr" />
==Execution== On June 22, 2023, Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed Barnes's death warrant. Barnes was scheduled to be executed on August 3, 2023.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Mion|first=Landon|date=June 24, 2023|title=Gov. DeSantis signs death warrant for man convicted of 'brutal and ruthless' 1988 rape, murder of nurse|work=Fox News|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/gov-desantis-signs-death-warrant-man-convicted-brutal-ruthless-1988-rape-murder-nurse|access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> His older sister Beth Catron wanted the execution to proceed and said of her brother's impending execution, "Our family is glad the nightmare will soon be over, and maybe we'll be able to sleep in peace."<ref name=":4">{{cite news|last=Torres|first=John A.|date=June 30, 2023|title=Torres: Murderer's family anxiously awaits his execution|work=Florida Today|url=https://floridatoday.com/story/news/2023/06/30/family-florida-killer-james-barnes-awaits-execution/70362242007/|access-date=June 30, 2023}}</ref>
At a hearing on June 27, 2023, Barnes stated his acceptance of responsibility for his crimes and asked to proceed to his execution without any delay.<ref>{{cite news|last=Saunders|first=Jim|date=July 13, 2023|title=Condemned Florida rapist, killer won't fight August execution|work=Sun Sentinel|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/07/13/condemned-florida-rapist-killer-wont-fight-august-execution/|access-date=July 16, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230720202640/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/07/13/condemned-florida-rapist-killer-wont-fight-august-execution/|archive-date=July 20, 2023}}</ref>
On August 3, 2023, Barnes was executed via lethal injection at Florida State Prison, at age 61. He was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. He declined to eat a last meal, receive visitors, or give a final statement.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
==See also== * Capital punishment in Florida * Capital punishment in the United States * Conversion to Islam in U.S. prisons * List of people executed in Florida * List of people executed in the United States in 2023 * Volunteer (capital punishment)
==References== {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} ! colspan="3" | Executions carried out in Florida {{s-bef | before = Duane Owen | before2 = <div style="font-weight: normal">June 15, 2023</div> }} {{s-ttl | title = James Phillip Barnes | years = August 3, 2023 }} {{s-aft | after = Michael Duane Zack III | after2 = <div style="font-weight: normal">October 3, 2023</div> }} |- ! colspan="3" | Executions carried out in the United States {{s-bef | before = Johnny Allen Johnson – Missouri | before2 = <div style="font-weight: normal">August 1, 2023</div> }} {{s-ttl | title = James Phillip Barnes – Florida | years = August 3, 2023 }} {{s-aft | after = Anthony Castillo Sanchez – Oklahoma | after2 = <div style="font-weight: normal">September 21, 2023</div> }} {{s-end}}
{{Authority Control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnes, James}} Category:1962 births Category:2023 deaths Category:20th-century American murderers Category:21st-century executions by Florida Category:American male criminals Category:American people convicted of rape Category:American people convicted of arson Category:American people convicted of burglary Category:American people convicted of theft Category:American people executed for murder Category:Executed suspected serial killers Category:People convicted of murder by Florida Category:People executed by Florida by lethal injection Category:Converts to Islam Category:Violence against women in Florida