3 charged in Barber murder

Three suspects were charged with killing sports enthusiast Terry Barber whose body was found Wednesday at his Walnut Grove Road home, Rutherford County Sheriff’s detectives said Monday.

Barber, 68, was believed killed the night of Monday, June 24, said Criminal Investigations Capt. Britt Reed. A friend found his body Wednesday.

He was an announcer, referee and umpire for Murfreesboro and Rutherford County sports and sold Southeastern Conference memorabilia.

Suspects Devan Jacob Gailey, 20, Brent Donavan Ross, 21, and Vernice Darlene Farrar, 39, all of Murfreesboro, were charged with first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and especially aggravated robbery of Barber.

All three suspects were in custody Sunday.

Gailey and Ross are being held without bond at Rutherford County Adult Detention Center while Farrar is being held in a Florida detention center while awaiting extradition.

Detectives Steve Brown and Ryan Huggins began their investigation after responding to the home Wednesday.

“Evidence at the scene indicated that foul play was involved and our detectives began treating the death as a homicide,” Reed said.

Detectives stated it appeared Barber had been assaulted and bound with restraints.

They examined a variety of potential evidence and developed suspects by late Thursday.

“Our detectives worked a lot of hours putting the pieces together and working diligently to get these suspects in custody,” Reed said.

Detectives do not believe this is a random murder and that there was a connection between at least one of the suspects and the victim. Additional suspects may be charged.

“We are looking into everyone who may have participated in some form or fashion in this senseless crime,” Reed said. “If they had any culpability, we will hold them accountable.”

Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh thanked Murfreesboro Police Department and the Tampa Bay Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.

Barber was known around Murfreesboro for his love of youth and college sports. In recent years, he sold SEC memorabilia from his very distinguishable “SEC Battlefields” van at different locations. He was a spectator and fan at high school or middle school games.