Gary & Cherie Barnes Murdered in Leon Butler County Kansas

SUSPECT IS SOUGHT IN MURDERS

A juvenile suspect is being sought by Butler County sheriff's officers in the shooting deaths of a rural Butler County couple early this morning.

The couple (whose names were not immediately released pending notification of next of kin) died of gunshot wounds to the head, Butler County Sheriff Dave Williams said. They were discovered in the bedroom of their home, which is located about 4 miles south of Leon and then west off of the Leon-Atlanta Road.

Williams said the sheriff's department received a call regarding the double murder from the Wichita Police Department at 10:56 a.m. today. At 11:26 a.m. sheriff's officers arrived at the scene and observed the body of one of the victims through a window. Officers then forcibly entered the residence and found the bodies of both of the victims.

Williams said a person who reported the murders to the Wichita Police Department was being brought to the Butler County Sheriff's Office for questioning.

Williams said it is believed the shootings occurred about 2 a.m. today. Investigators at the scene said it is believed the couple had been dead "several hours." (El Dorado Times, July 17, 1987)

THREE BEING HELD IN CUSTODY

Three juveniles are now in custody in connection with the shooting deaths Friday of a rural Butler County couple at their home about 4 miles south of Leon and west of the Atlanta Road. The rifle believed used in the crime has also been recovered.

Sheriff's investigators found the bodies of Gary Barnes, 36, and Cherie Barnes, 32, in their isolated white-frame house 4 miles south west of Leon at about 11:30 a.m. Friday.

A third suspect in the case, a 17 year old Wichita youth, was picked up Friday evening. The other two suspects in the case are the 14 year-old-son of Cherie Barnes and stepson of Gary Barnes and a 15-year-old cousin of the 14-year-old.

Butler County Attorney Morgan Metcalf said this morning it is believed that youth returned with the other two suspects in the case to the murder scene, but what his role might have been in the crime is unknown.

Metcalf said all three suspects in the case have given statements to sheriff's office, but County prosecutors have not seen those statements yet. Prosecutors should receive those statements Monday, he said.

"It appears that with regard to the 14 and 15-year-old, they will be charged as juveniles with the crime of first degree murder," Metcalf said this morning. What charges might be filed against the 17-year-old, he said, would depend upon the statements of that youth and those of the other two suspects.

"We believe we have the true story now," Butler County Sheriff Dave Williams said this morning regarding the statements of the three.

Williams said the rifle believed used in the murders was recovered about midnight Friday from a creek north of the murder scene. He said sheriff's officers were assisted by two scuba divers and the Leon rescue squad (which provided lighting) in recovering the weapon.

Williams also said the Barnes' Chevrolet Blazer which the 14-year-old initially told investigators his cousin left the house in shortly after his parents were shot was also recovered in Wichita, Friday.

At 10:56 a.m. Friday the sheriff's office received a call from the Wichita Police Department regarding the double murder. At 11:26 a.m. sheriff officers arrived at the scene and observed the body of one of the victims through a window. Officers then forcibly entered the residence and found the bodies of both of the victims.

Williams said the 14 year old was picked up in Wichita about noon Friday and the 15 year old at about 5 p.m. (El Dorado Times, July 18, 1987)

MURDER CHARGES TO BE FILED

Butler County prosecutors were preparing charges late this morning against three juveniles being held in connection with the murders early last Friday morning of a rural Butler County couple.

Officials with the Butler County Attorney's office said the 14 year old son of Cherie Barnes and stepson of Gary Barnes was to be charged with two counts of aiding and abetting first degree murder.

A 16 year old Wichita youth also being held was to be charged with aiding a felon, according to officials with the County Attorney's office.

A 1:30 p.m. detention hearing Tuesday has been scheduled, according to the County Attorney's office at which time a determination will be held if the boys will be detained. The boys will also be advised of the charges against them and a trial date set.

The three youths are still being held in the Butler County jail, where they are being housed separately from other jail inmates.

The bodies of Gary Barnes, 36, and Cherie Barnes, 32, were discovered in a bedroom of their rural Butler County home about 11:30 a.m. Friday. They each died of gunshot wounds to the head.

It is believed they were killed about 2 a.m. Friday. At 10:56 a.m. Friday the Butler County Sheriff's Office received a call from the Wichita Police Department regarding the double murder. At 11:26 a.m. sheriff's officers arrived at the scene and observed the body of one of the victims through a window. Officers then forcibly entered the residence and found the bodies of both.

A rifle believed used in the killings was recovered at about midnight Friday from a creek north of the murder scene. (El Dorado Times, July 20, 1987)

JUVENILES HELD PENDING TRIAL

Three teenage boys who a Butler County Sheriff official said Tuesday had initially discussed burying the bodies of two County murder victims will remain in custody pending their trials.

Detention hearings were held Tuesday in Butler County District Court for the youths, who are charged in the murders of Gary Barnes, 36, and Cherie Barnes, 32, whose bodies were found in a bedroom of their rural Butler County home about 4 miles south of Leon last Friday morning.

District Judge Mike Jaworsky set a 2 p.m. Aug. 20 trial for William G. Carson, 16, of Wichita, who is charged with two counts of aiding a felon. A 9 a.m. Aug. 27 trial date was set for Charles J. Campbell, 14, and Christophar L. McGee, 15.

Campbell, who is the son of Cherie Barnes and stepson of Gary Barnes, is charged with two counts of first degree murder. McGee, Campbell's cousin, is charged with two counts of aiding and abetting first degree murder.

At Tuesday's hearing for Carson, Assistant Butler County Attorney Mike Ward requested the youth continue to be held pending his trial, saying he considered Carson possibly "a danger to himself or to others." He called Capt. Keith Barnes, head of the investigations division of the Butler County Sheriff's Office, to testify in support of his request.

In his testimony Barnes did not specifically name the other two youths charged in the case He said he interviewed Carson at about 10:51 p.m. last Friday in the under sheriff's office at the County jail judicial building.

Barnes said Carson told him that sometime after 2 a.m. last Friday the other two youths came to his (Carson's) house in Wichita, and from there the three went to play video games at several Wichita locations.

Barnes said Carson told him sometime during the course of that period of time one of the other youths told him he had killed two people and told him who those people were.

The three then proceeded to the scene of the murders, Barnes said Carson told him, and along the way all three discussed burying the bodies. Barnes said Carson told him he was involved in the discussion, was in agreement on burying the bodies and also suggested they wrap the victims heads in gunny sacks.

However, Barnes said, Carson told him on the way out to the house he did not believe anyone had been killed. He said Carson told him one of the other two youths made a comment that if the victims were not dead he would have to shoot them again. Barnes said Carson told him he was in agreement on that but still did not believe the victims were actually dead.

One of the other youths then took a rifle out of the residence, Barnes said Carson told him, and Carson said he could sell the gun and get some money for the other two youths so they could get away. Carson and one of the other youths got into a Chevrolet Blazer which the victims had purchased the day before the murders, Barnes said Carson told him, and the other youth took the rifle and got into the pickup truck the victims owned.

The three went into Wichita, Barnes said Carson told him, and Carson parked the Blazer about two or three houses away from his residence. He said Carson then took the tag off the Blazer, gave it to his 13 year old brother and instructed him to throw it in the Arkansas River, which he did.

The pickup and Blazer which the three youths took into Wichita have been recovered, Barnes said, as has the rifle which was in the pickup. The tag off the Blazer has not been recovered.

The rifle in the pickup, Barnes said, is not the one which is believed to have been used in the crime. That weapon, a .30-30 rifle, was located about midnight last Friday in a creek north of the victims' home.

All three youths are being charged as juveniles. Ward said he is prohibited by statue from seeking to have Campbell and McGee charged as adults. He said he does not currently anticipate seeking to have Carson charged as an adult.

Jaworsky allowed reporters to attend the detention hearing of Carson; although he barred cameras from the hearing, an artist from a Wichita television station was allowed in.

Reporters were barred from the proceedings for Campbell and McGee. Prosecutors had not released the names of the three juveniles, but by virture of the fact that he is 16 years of age Carson's file is considered to be an open file. Campbell and McGee are specifically named in the County's complaint against Carson.

Ward said at this time court trials (before the judge only and not before a jury) are planned for all three defendants. He also said he is considering filing a motion to consolidate the cases of Campbell and McGee into one case.

Ward also said he thought there was a "good likelihood" the three youths, who are currently being held without bond in the Butler County Jail separately from other inmates, will be moved to another facility.

Carson is being represented by Augusta attorney Phyllis Webster, El Dorado Attorney Gene White is representing the other two defendants. Webster and White are the two attorneys under contract with the County to represent indigent juveniles.

Ward said the maximum sentence which the juveniles could receive would be confinement in the state's maximum security lock up facility for juveniles in Topeka until they are 21 years of age. (El Dorado Times, July 22, 1987)

YOUTH ENTERS PLEA IN MURDERS

A 14 year old youth pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree murder this morning in Butler County District Court in connection with the July shooting deaths of his mother and stepfather at their rural Butler County Home.

Sources told The Times that Charles J. Campbell entered guilty pleas in connection with the deaths of Gary Barnes, 36, and Cherie Barnes, 32. Sentencing, the sources said, was set for 3 p.m. Oct. 9.

The maximum sentence Campbell could received would be confinement in the state's maximum security lock up facility for juvenile sin Topeka until he is 21 years of age.

The bodies of Gary and Cherie Barnes were found in a bedroom of their rural Butler County home about 4 miles south of Leon, July 17.

A court trial for Campbell and Christopher L. McGee, 15, who is charged with two counts of aiding and abetting first degree murder in connection with the deaths, was to have been held at 9 a.m. today, McGee is Campbell's cousin.

Court sources said McGee's trial will be continued. A third youth, William G. Carson, 17, of Wichita, is charged with two counts of aiding a felon in connection with the case. His court trial has also been continued, from an earlier 2 p.m. Aug. 20 scheduling.

All three youths are being charged as juveniles. Detention hearings for the three youths were held July 21. They have been held in custody since their arrests.

At the hearing for Carson, Capt. Keith Banres, head of the investigations division of the Butler County Sheriff's Office, testified Carson told him sometime after 2 a.m. July 17 Campbell and McGee came to his (Carson's) house in Wichita, the three then going from there to play video games at several Wichita locations.

Barnes said Carson told him sometime during the course of that period of time one of the other youths told him he had killed two people and told him who those people were. The three of them proceeded to the scene of the murders, Barnes said Carson told him, and along the way all three discussed burying the bodies. Barnes said Carson told him he was involved in the discussion, was in agreement on burying the bodies and also suggested they wrap the victims' heads in gunny sacks.

That plan was never carried out. (El Dorado Times, August 27, 1987)

NEW TRIALS SET IN COUNTY MURDERS

New trial dates have been set for two youths charged in connection with the July shooting deaths of a rural Leon couple. One of the youths has been released to his parents pending the trial.

Trial for Christophar L. McGee, 15, and William G. Carson, 17, has been set for 9 a.m. Oct. 22. McGee is charged with two counts of aiding and abetting first degree murder in the deaths of Gary Barnes, 36, and Cherie Barnes, 32, who were found shot to death in a bedroom of their rural Butler County home about 4 miles south of Leon July 17.

On Thursday, Charles J. Campbell, 14, son of Cherie Barnes, pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree murder in connection with the case. A disposition hearing for Campbell and McGee are cousins.

Carson of Wichita, is charged with two counts of aiding a felon in connection with the case. On Thursday District Judge Mike Jaworsky ordered Carson released to his parents pending the trial. Assistant Butler County Attorney Mike Ward said he was not strongly opposed to that.

Carson was originally scheduled to go on trial at 2 p.m. Aug. 20. Campbell and McGee were to have gone on trial Thursday.

Campbell and McGee are being held in the Butler County Jail; they were previously being held at the Shawnee County Youth Detention Center in Topeka. (El Dorado Times, Aug. 28, 1987)

SENTENCING IN COUNTY MURDER CASE CONTINUED

A mix up with a state agency Friday resulted in the continuation of sentencing of a 14 year old youth who pleaded guilty in August to two counts of first degree murder in connection with the shooting deaths in July of his mother and stepfather at their rural Butler County home.

Charles J. Campbell was to have been sentenced at 3 p.m. Friday. However his sentencing has been continued to 9 a.m. Oct. 16.

Campbell pleaded guilty Aug. 27 to two counts of first degree murder in connection with the deaths of Gary and Cherie Barnes whose bodies were found in a bedroom of their rural Butler County home about 4 miles south of Leon, July 17.

Butler County Attorney Mike Ward said Friday afternoon the state department of social and rehabilitiation services, which has custody of Campbell, did not return him to Butler County for his sentencing, as County prosecutors had expected it would.

No paperwork had been done to bring Campbell back to Butler County, Ward said, since it had been expected SRS would be returning him.

When local officals got to checking around Friday to find out where Campbell was, Ward said, they learned he had been transferred to the Barton County Jail from the Shawnee County Detention Facility in Topeka, apparently because the latter facility didn't have room to take him back after he entered his plea.

Ward said that in cases like that of Campbell, since SRS has custody the County attorney's office doesn't keep close tabs on youths whereabouts.

Two other youths have also been charged in the killings. Christophar L. McGee, 15, (Campbell's cousin) is charged with two counts of aiding and abetting first degree murder. WIlliam G. Carson, 17, of Wichita, is charged with two counts of aiding a felon.

Their trials are scheduled for later this month. (El Doraedo Times, October 10, 1987)

YOUTH SENTENCED IN MURDERS

El Dorado, Kan - A 15 year old who admitted killing his mother and stepfather was sentenced to the state's maximum security juvenile facility today.

Butler County District Judge Mike Jaworsky ordered Charles Campbell confined to the State Youth Center in Topeka for an unspecified period. If not already released he will be freed when he turns 21 Aug. 29, 1993.

Butler County Attorney Mike Ward recommended Campbell be held until he is 21. However, he said, it will be up to state authorities to determine how long he is incarcerated.

In August, Campbell pleaded guilty to two first degree murder charges in the July 17 shooting deaths of Cherie Barnes, 32, and Gary Barnes, 36. The couple was killed in the rural home near Leon that they had shared with Campbell. Both were shot in the head with a large caliber rifle as they lay in bed, authorities said.

A cousin who had been living with the family, Chris McGee, 16, is charged with two counts of aiding and abetting in the commssion of the murders. A friend of the cousins, William Carson, 17, Wichita, is charged with two counts of aiding and abetting a felon.

Ward said this morning Carson is scheduled to enter a plea Oct. 22. He said he believes McGee may also be set to enter a plea on that date, but added the state may have to try that case. (El Dorado Times, Oct. 16, 1987)

OBIT

Gary C. Barnes, 36, Boeing Military Airplane Co. chemical treatment attendant, and his wife, Cherie L. (Niblack) Barnes, 32, Boeing Military Airplane Co. modification mechanic, both of Leon, died Friday, July 17, 1987.

Joint service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Smith Mortuary, Haysville.

His survivors: son, Glennon (address unavailable); father, Lawrence of Tulsa; mother, Ava Gray of Derby; brother, Larry of Wichita.

Her survivors: son, Charles Campbell, at home; parents, R. A. and Cecelia Niblack of Wichita; brothers, Jesse Leon Kees, Roger Dale Kees, both of Wichita, Calvin Ray Niblack of Rose Hill; sisters, DeeAnn Mayes of Alexandria, Ky., Sheila McGee of Wichita, Glenna Brasher of Haysville, Ethel Jane McLain of Joelton, Tenn.; grandmother, Veronica Dameron of Vian, Okla. (El Dorado Times, July 20, 1987)