He murdered Hilda Roche after meeting her in a bar and after dating once or twice. He killed her after returning a wallet to her lost at a pub. Barker was thought to be a possible serial killer.

What happened to Barker? the update on the broadcast said he could be charged with first degree murder. Was he charged with other crimes and what was his penalty?

He murdered Hilda Roche after meeting her in a bar and after dating once or twice. He killed her after returning a wallet to her lost at a pub. Barker was thought to be a possible serial killer.

What happened to Barker? the update on the broadcast said he could be charged with first degree murder. Was he charged with other crimes and what was his penalty?


in what state was the conviction entered?

Virginia

Okay. Unfortunately, Virginia's online inmate locator doesn't give much information such as DOB or conviction info, so while I can't be absolutely sure this is him, there is a Gregory R. Barker currently incarcerated at Deerfield Correctional Center. His projected release date is February 21, 2023.

Okay. Unfortunately, Virginia's online inmate locator doesn't give much information such as DOB or conviction info, so while I can't be absolutely sure this is him, there is a Gregory R. Barker currently incarcerated at Deerfield Correctional Center. His projected release date is February 21, 2023.

I read on youtube that he got life and is eligible for parole around that time. Hopefully not :mad:

Barker is truly an evil piece of garbage. If the murder happened as it did in the reinactment that was one of the coldest and most heartless crimes I ever saw. Truly felt compassion for poor Miss Roche.

Supposedly there was sexual activity before he took her out behind that schoolhouse, I'm not sure if it was a rape or consensual, she hadn't been out on but a couple of dates with him but that still happens. I'm thinking it probably was a rape otherwise why would he have killed her?

Either way, he should have been sent to the electric chair.

Well, let's take it easy on the vengeance trips. As the proverb goes, a man who acts with vengeance digs two graves, one for his enemy and one for himself. I don't really see how sending Barker to the electric chair would do any good.

The prison Barker is in, is actually a medium security prison. But the reason that Barker did not get death is because at the time the crime was committed, so yes he would have been tried under 1982 laws, at that time it was much harder to get the death penalty in Virginia than it would be now. So Barker, I am assuming was not charged with Capital Murder, probably because they would have to prove that he did the murder during the act of another felony and I imagine because they couldn't prove he raped Hilda Roche they could only charge him with 1st degree murder which at that time was also a parole eligible crime although parole was abolished for first degree murder in Virginia in 1995 but that only applies to murder committed in 1995 or later.

Anyway, the prison Barker is in, Deerfield Correctional Center is a medium security facility. It is located in Capron, Virginia which is in Southampton County, Virginia. Capron appears to basically be in the middle of nowhere and is not too far north of the North Carolina border.

Well, let's take it easy on the vengeance trips. As the proverb goes, a man who acts with vengeance digs two graves, one for his enemy and one for himself. I don't really see how sending Barker to the electric chair would do any good.
The prison Barker is in, is actually a medium security prison. But the reason that Barker did not get death is because at the time the crime was committed, so yes he would have been tried under 1982 laws, at that time it was much harder to get the death penalty in Virginia than it would be now. So Barker, I am assuming was not charged with Capital Murder, probably because they would have to prove that he did the murder during the act of another felony and I imagine because they couldn't prove he raped Hilda Roche they could only charge him with 1st degree murder which at that time was also a parole eligible crime although parole was abolished for first degree murder in Virginia in 1995 but that only applies to murder committed in 1995 or later.

Anyway, the prison Barker is in, Deerfield Correctional Center is a medium security facility. It is located in Capron, Virginia which is in Southampton County, Virginia. Capron appears to basically be in the middle of nowhere and is not too far north of the North Carolina border.

Hooo boy here we go. I don't really want to get into an argument over the merits of the death penalty here. I don't really know what your beliefs are what your religion is but I'm a Christian and the Bible does condone the death penalty for murder carried out by law of a country. If thats your belief I respect it, don't agree with it but I don't wish to get into an argument over it.

There is a difference between vengeance and justice. Death penalty sentences are often a long time in being carried out anyway, so its not like offenders don't have a chance to make peace with their maker, and it seems incredible that someone who could be as cold and heartless as Mr Barker would be to interested in doing that, but I suppose anything is possible.

Ha, so am I, I am a Roman Catholic. Actually the Bible doesn't condone the death penalty, at least the new testament does not. The whole 'eye for an eye' thing is simply the misinterpretation of what the verse really means and is a common crutch of death penalty supporters to justify state sponsored killing. In any event the law and religion are supposed to be separate and not co-existing. Heck, people have had death sentences reversed because certain jurors would bring a bible in the jury room and say 'the bible says we should recommend execution'.

Actually a death sentence is vengeance, I am frankly astounded that you could say it is not. How is not payback or revenge? It is not justice. If you think that is justice, than you have a distorted view of what the word really means. Frankly there is no justice for what Gregory Barker did, except if Hilda Roche were alive and the murder never happened. Regardless of what you did to Barker, there is really no justice for something like that.

Well, it is a thing called, appeals for why the death sentences take a while to be carried out. This stuff isn't an exact science, so we don't even know if we are truly 'executing' a guilty person. I still find it kind of amusing how so many people that are so gung ho about the death penalty because the 'Bible says so' also turn around and then claim to be the most pro life of the bunch, Baptists are the worst offenders in that regard. But Virginia actually has a pretty fast appeals process. It is rare people are on the row longer than 10 years there.

Now above, when I said Baptists, I did not literally mean each individual Baptist. But I meant the overall philosophy of the majority of Baptists.

Death penalty for mine, such a cold calculating murder.

http://www.vadoc.state.va.us/offenders/locator/results.cfm

Was there any truth to the fact he was a serial killer?

Romans 13:4 says the executioner beareth not the sword in vain.

I was also really surprised he didn't get death. I know that he was tried in before the laws changed, but in the UM segment the detective said there were obvious signs of a sexual assault. It was also mentioned that they found adhesive tape and other evidence of sexual assault on her bed. So why didn't they try him for capital murder? This really was an appalling crime, and I can't imagine that he will ever get out on parole... I live in VA, and if he does, I will be fighting it.

Was there any truth to the fact he was a serial killer?

I'd like to know about this too. The manner in which he killed Hilda Roche was truly disturbing. This was a woman he had known for a little less than a week! And there was plenty of thought that went in to how he killed her with the whole wallet angle.

The extremely cruel way in which he killed Hilda, that doesn't sound like the kind of guy who has killed just one time.

Just watched this again. Something that stuck out to me in both watching the segment and researching a bit online is that Barker served two tours of duty in Vietnam.

Researching the case a bit on UM wiki they mention that while on the run (although no sources are given) Barker would roam the streets at night usually using all night theaters as makeshift lodging. Since his capture he has claimed that both his capture and imprisonment are part of a military cover up.

His behavior from the military style execution of Hilda Roche, to stalking the streets at night in a vagrant like manner to his paranoia regarding military persecution all sound to me like someone who suffered some kind of post traumatic stress disorder (possibly stemming from his time in Vietnam) which possibly damaged his psyche to the point of no return.

Just watched this again. Something that stuck out to me in both watching the segment and researching a bit online is that Barker served two tours of duty in Vietnam.

Researching the case a bit on UM wiki they mention that while on the run (although no sources are given) Barker would roam the streets at night usually using all night theaters as makeshift lodging. Since his capture he has claimed that both his capture and imprisonment are part of a military cover up.

His behavior from the military style execution of Hilda Roche, to stalking the streets at night in a vagrant like manner to his paranoia regarding military persecution all sound to me like someone who suffered some kind of post traumatic stress disorder (possibly stemming from his time in Vietnam) which possibly damaged his psyche to the point of no return.

Wow there are even more layers of intrigue to this guy.

I just watched this one again too. First, let me just say that I don't understand the notion that "revenge" is a bad thing, particularly in a case like this. Revenge is a very natural human response to tragedy, and the argument that "revenge" should not be a part of justice gets thrown around way too often in my book.

But more importantly, I truly hope this man never gets out. I wish I could find more info online about him. This was one of those segments that really stuck out and horrified me. This is as cold-blooded as it gets, if it went down the way UM presented it.

At least he was captured.

Barker is truly an evil piece of garbage. If the murder happened as it did in the reinactment that was one of the coldest and most heartless crimes I ever saw. Truly felt compassion for poor Miss Roche.

Supposedly there was sexual activity before he took her out behind that schoolhouse, I'm not sure if it was a rape or consensual, she hadn't been out on but a couple of dates with him but that still happens. I'm thinking it probably was a rape otherwise why would he have killed her?

Either way, he should have been sent to the electric chair.

you're absolutely right. this segment sickens me every time i see it...and it wasn't consensual. she was sexually assaulted.

part of the reason why i can't stand to watch it is because it brings back thoughts of what happened to me. in january, i was sexually assaulted by two men that i knew, and they assumed that i would have sex with them after having only a couple of encounters with them. those guys reminded me of that monster who killed hilda. being violently raped was the worst experience of my life, but i can't even imagine what she felt when she was being taken to the woods.

and I had no idea that he had served in Vietnam...war does a lot to people. I can understand a little bit why he acted the way he did. But that doesn't forgive him.

and I had no idea that he had served in Vietnam...war does a lot to people. I can understand a little bit why he acted the way he did. But that doesn't forgive him.

Exactly Barker is where he belongs in my opinion but if what has been written about him on wiki is true and coupled with the UM segment, my opinion is that Barker is mentally ill.

Exactly Barker is where he belongs in my opinion but if what has been written about him on wiki is true and coupled with the UM segment, my opinion is that Barker is mentally ill.

I agree. One of the men that raped me had some mental issues as well. its an unfortunate pattern.

tiddlywinks950 i'm so sorry to hear that happened to you. Your so brave to come on here and share that information with us.

This guy clearly had something against society, and against women in general.

His mugshots (obviously from a previous crime) were so damm creepy. He's eligible for parole in 2023 unbelievably.

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/unsolvedmysteries/images/thumb/8/89/Gregory_barker.jpg/300px-Gregory_barker.jpg

I'll give my 2 cents... If someone murders someone they do not value human life. so why should we value there life by letting them live? I agree there is a difference between vengence and justice.

I was molested by a friend of the family when I was around 9. I kept it a secret until about the last few years now. do I think he should've gone to jail? absolutely. but I have made peace with what happened. to a degree I think taking revenge on someone brings you down to their level.

I still see him from time to time. but I act like nothing happened and don't bring it up. we are friends with his family and I don't feel like hurting them or rehashing what happened.

and I had no idea that he had served in Vietnam...war does a lot to people. I can understand a little bit why he acted the way he did. But that doesn't forgive him.

sexually assaulting a woman, marching her through the woods nude, and murdering her in a cold blood, is not excused by any war time trauma.

you're absolutely right. this segment sickens me every time i see it...and it wasn't consensual. she was sexually assaulted.

part of the reason why i can't stand to watch it is because it brings back thoughts of what happened to me. in january, i was sexually assaulted by two men that i knew, and they assumed that i would have sex with them after having only a couple of encounters with them. those guys reminded me of that monster who killed hilda. being violently raped was the worst experience of my life, but i can't even imagine what she felt when she was being taken to the woods.

My heart goes out to you, I'm glad you survived. Being a man I can't imagine what that must be like, (although sexual assault does happen to men occasionally to).

Sexual assault can and does happen to men and boys. except you don't hear about it as much on the news. you more often hear about women who are assaulted. no to diminish that but I'm sorry I feel like it's almost like a stereotype. plus how many men would be ashamed to report the rape?

It's almost like how you only hear about pretty young White women who go missing. and not as much when a woman or girl of color goes missing. I'm sorry but I feel it's the truth.

It cheeses me off when molestation or rape of a man is played up for "laughs" in a movie. people act like a man can't be raped for some reason. like if some smokin' hot woman drugs them and rapes them it still isn't rape because she's hot.

Well here I go again on a tangent. if I insulted anyone I apologize. this is obviously a sore subject to me. but I don't buy for a second this guy did something like that only once. it seems quite calculated to me like he had it all planned out beforehand.

Sexual assault can and does happen to men and boys. except you don't hear about it as much on the news. you more often hear about women who are assaulted. no to diminish that but I'm sorry I feel like it's almost like a stereotype. plus how many men would be ashamed to report the rape?

It's almost like how you only hear about pretty young White women who go missing. and not as much when a woman or girl of color goes missing. I'm sorry but I feel it's the truth.

It cheeses me off when molestation or rape of a man is played up for "laughs" in a movie. people act like a man can't be raped for some reason. like if some smokin' hot woman drugs them and rapes them it still isn't rape because she's hot.

Well here I go again on a tangent. if I insulted anyone I apologize. this is obviously a sore subject to me. but I don't buy for a second this guy did something like that only once. it seems quite calculated to me like he had it all planned out beforehand.

I do wonder if Barker planned to kill her all along.

I think its possible that he might not have intended to kill her when he went to her house, but merely wanted sex. I suppose it could be that Hilda rebuffed his sexual advances, he got angry and raped her. And then to keep her from telling anyone he decided to kill her.

Either way he is a lowlife and should never see the light of day again. But whether or not he intended to kill her right from the start might tell whether or not he is a serial killer or just a sexual predator scumbag.

The odd thing about it is Barker was not tried for any other murders or as far as I know suspected in any others, but he was tried and convicted of armed robbery. Its not very common for serial killers to be bank robbers as well, for whatever reason.

I think if he planned to kill Hilda all along, then this definitely wasn't his only murder. But if he only killed her to keep her quiet that he got out of hand and raped her, it may have just been a one time thing.

There is no question he's a lowlife, but just how much of a lowlife I guess is up for debate. Perhaps it doesn't matter, what he did to Ms Roche alone should have him put away for life. But it would be interesting to know if there were others he murdered or even just sexually assaulted.

Killers like this don't stop and she may have not been his first victim. Most sexual predators progress in crimes starting with peeping and working there way up to murder. I don't believe they change either and if he gets out he is a danger to society which means someone else will suffer. I'm Catholic too but I firmly believe in the death penalty.

Just watched this again. Something that stuck out to me in both watching the segment and researching a bit online is that Barker served two tours of duty in Vietnam.

Researching the case a bit on UM wiki they mention that while on the run (although no sources are given) Barker would roam the streets at night usually using all night theaters as makeshift lodging.


Do you know which city or cities it was were he used to do this?

Since his capture he has claimed that both his capture and imprisonment are part of a military cover up.

His behavior from the military style execution of Hilda Roche, to stalking the streets at night in a vagrant like manner to his paranoia regarding military persecution all sound to me like someone who suffered some kind of post traumatic stress disorder (possibly stemming from his time in Vietnam) which possibly damaged his psyche to the point of no return.

Thats a very interesting observaion and analysis , he should have been psychologically evaluated because if he was found to be mentally ill he should have been sent to an appropriate institution were he would be kept till he was no longer deemed a threat to society (which could be indefinitely) as opposed to prison which has opened up the real possibility of him being paroled soon ......

Whenever UM dealt with serial killers or cases like this they played that chilling music.

Interesting since the new UM streaming episodes got released seems more information on Barker's past came to light, being a Vietnam Vet also committing bank robberies. First I have heard of it, I'm pretty sure even the UM wiki page wasn't filled with this information until recently as well. Also the fact he is now deceased which on the wiki page hasn't been updated.

I do wonder if Barker planned to kill her all along.

I think its possible that he might not have intended to kill her when he went to her house, but merely wanted sex. I suppose it could be that Hilda rebuffed his sexual advances, he got angry and raped her. And then to keep her from telling anyone he decided to kill her.

Either way he is a lowlife and should never see the light of day again. But whether or not he intended to kill her right from the start might tell whether or not he is a serial killer or just a sexual predator scumbag.

The odd thing about it is Barker was not tried for any other murders or as far as I know suspected in any others, but he was tried and convicted of armed robbery. Its not very common for serial killers to be bank robbers as well, for whatever reason.

I think if he planned to kill Hilda all along, then this definitely wasn't his only murder. But if he only killed her to keep her quiet that he got out of hand and raped her, it may have just been a one time thing.

There is no question he's a lowlife, but just how much of a lowlife I guess is up for debate. Perhaps it doesn't matter, what he did to Ms Roche alone should have him put away for life. But it would be interesting to know if there were others he murdered or even just sexually assaulted.

After watching the full segment on Amazon Prime, I'm wondering more and more when exactly he decided to kill her.

She lost her wallet at the restaurant the night she met him and he immediately told the waitress that he should be contacted when the restaurant locates the wallet. Was he hoping that by returning the wallet to her, she would reward him with sex?

It's probably as simple as you said; she turned him down, he got angry and raped her and had to kill her in order to keep her quiet. But leaving her body behind an elementary school, surely he should have known that it wouldn't take long for someone to stumble on her corpse.

Truly one of the most disturbing segments.

After watching the full segment on Amazon Prime, I'm wondering more and more when exactly he decided to kill her.

She lost her wallet at the restaurant the night she met him and he immediately told the waitress that he should be contacted when the restaurant locates the wallet. Was he hoping that by returning the wallet to her, she would reward him with sex?

It's probably as simple as you said; she turned him down, he got angry and raped her and had to kill her in order to keep her quiet. But leaving her body behind an elementary school, surely he should have known that it wouldn't take long for someone to stumble on her corpse.

Truly one of the most disturbing segments.

I personally think Gregory Barker targeted Hilda Roche in the bar, and that he knew he was going to kill her before she even lost her wallet. When it turned up missing, he knew she would never come to claim it, and he may have reasoned that if he came to pick up the wallet before her body was discovered, the bar employees would be more likely to think nothing of it as the item at that time wouldn't have been connected with a missing or deceased person.

Interestingly Gregory Barker was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He had been an officer, rising to the rank of Captain and had served two tours in Vietnam where he earned several decorations including a Purple Heart. Not saying this in any way lets him off the hook but he was clearly a very intelligent and calculating individual. I also tend to believe that Barker was quite possibly a serial killer. I do tend to believe that Hilda Roche was not his first killing. Roche met Barker at a bar called 'Rafter's' which was in Alexandria. Roche also was a civilian employee of the U.S. Army. Megtheegg's theory is actually very interesting and one I hadn't thought about until now that Barker targeted Roche from the second he laid eyes on her.

I personally think Gregory Barker targeted Hilda Roche in the bar, and that he knew he was going to kill her before she even lost her wallet. When it turned up missing, he knew she would never come to claim it, and he may have reasoned that if he came to pick up the wallet before her body was discovered, the bar employees would be more likely to think nothing of it as the item at that time wouldn't have been connected with a missing or deceased person.

Roche did not lose her wallet. Barker lifted the wallet off of her and wanted her to believe she lost it. This is the reason that Barker wanted to be the one notified when the wallet was found. He went back and planted the wallet so it would be found and he would be called to retrieve it. With the wallet in hand, he had easy access into Roches house. All part of the cunning of Gregory Barker. Courtesy of the US Army.

Interestingly Gregory Barker was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He had been an officer, rising to the rank of Captain and had served two tours in Vietnam where he earned several decorations including a Purple Heart. Not saying this in any way lets him off the hook but he was clearly a very intelligent and calculating individual. I also tend to believe that Barker was quite possibly a serial killer. I do tend to believe that Hilda Roche was not his first killing. Roche met Barker at a bar called 'Rafter's' which was in Alexandria. Roche also was a civilian employee of the U.S. Army. Megtheegg's theory is actually very interesting and one I hadn't thought about until now that Barker targeted Roche from the second he laid eyes on her.

I always thought it was odd we learned little about the victim in UM's presentation of the story. In fact, we really didn't learn much about Barker, really. Kind of underscores the whole bizarreness of the thing.

Roche did not lose her wallet. Barker lifted the wallet off of her and wanted her to believe she lost it. This is the reason that Barker wanted to be the one notified when the wallet was found. He went back and planted the wallet so it would be found and he would be called to retrieve it. With the wallet in hand, he had easy access into Roches house. All part of the cunning of Gregory Barker. Courtesy of the US Army.

I wouldn't be surprised if she entrusted him enough to get up and use the restroom while leaving her purse (or whatever she had with her) nearby him. In general, this was a slightly more naïve time-period (early '80's), in terms of taking people at their word or at face-value.

In that amount of time, he could have found the wallet, pocketed it, acted like he was getting up to use the restroom, and then stashed it (assuming the restaurant wasn't very crowded at the time or in the area of which they dined) in the base of a fake plant (or some other nearby decoration) where no one was likely to find it right away. That would be a reason to tell one (or more) of the employees that he wanted them to notify him as soon as they found it.

I'll always cite this case as one of the best police investigations ever featured on UM. The amount of grunt work and inventive ideas they used to narrow down potential suspects and identify the killer as Barker was pretty remarkable.

I'll always cite this case as one of the best police investigations ever featured on UM. The amount of grunt work and inventive ideas they used to narrow down potential suspects and identify the killer as Barker was pretty remarkable.

Yes we all can certainly recall many instances of shockingly bad police work but I agree that this was a genius piece of work by the force.

Btw he is deceased now so don't have to worry about parole.

When exactly did he die?