Jody Lee Barlow, 33, was found dead in a wooded area off Old River Road in Starks, Louisiana, on August 26, 2015. A U.S. Army veteran who had served with the 1st Special Forces in Iraq, Barlow worked as a pipeline inspector and enjoyed travel, hiking, boating, camping, hunting, and mud riding with family and friends. An autopsy found he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

Barlow’s burned-out truck and trailer were discovered on Greenmore Road about 10 miles from the body after witnesses reported seeing black smoke that morning. Surveillance footage and tips led investigators to 21-year-old Zachary Bench of Vinton, and authorities concluded robbery was the motive because Barlow’s truck, trailer, an ATV, and other items were missing. Bench was charged with second-degree murder, armed robbery, and obstruction of justice.

At trial Bench testified that an altercation escalated and he shot Barlow in self-defense, then hid the body and burned the vehicles; the jury rejected that account and convicted Bench of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice. A judge later sentenced Bench to life for the murder and an additional 40 years for obstruction, to be served consecutively. Did anyone who knew Jody notice him with the missing ATV or other items around late August 2015?