RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Last week, the Tennessee Supreme Court denied Vernice Darlene Farrar's appeal to revisit her case after being convicted of the kidnapping and first-degree murder of a Christiana man in 2019. Farrar had previously sought to overturn her convictions, arguing insufficient evidence during her Rutherford County trial. Her appeal was initially rejected by the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee in May of this year.
In 2022, Farrar received a life sentence with an additional 25 years for her role in the murder of Mr. Barber. The crime unfolded after Farrar, along with Brent Ross and Devan Gailey, met at her home, indulging in alcohol and methamphetamine. A need for money led the group to target the victim, encouraged by Gailey’s suggestion to steal valuables to pawn for cash. Farrar joined them, claiming her interest was to collect University of Alabama memorabilia.
The following morning, a friend discovered Barber's lifeless body in his bedroom, hands bound, after becoming concerned over no response to repeated door knocks. Investigators soon identified Farrar, Ross, and Gailey as suspects, culminating in their arrests and subsequent convictions for the murder of the 68-year-old victim.
The Tennessee Supreme Court's recent ruling to deny Farrar’s appeal was finalized on December 11, 2024, upholding the original convictions and sentences for the heinous crime committed in Christiana.
- Previous Appeal – Read More Here.
