Crystal Johnson Barker, 43, of Vale, North Carolina, was shot and killed inside her home on April 23, 2019. According to reports, her husband, Joseph Wayne Barker, barricaded her in a bedroom during a domestic dispute, threatened her aloud so their teenage sons could hear, and passed weapons — two knives and three firearms — outside to the children. He then fired a single .22-caliber revolver round that struck Crystal in the chest. The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office STAR Team found her deceased; Joseph Barker fled the scene and was captured after a two-day manhunt when his wrecked vehicle was found in Transylvania County and he was located hiding in woods.

Joseph Barker, who had no prior felony record, was convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping and on August 30, 2021 received a 17 to 22 year sentence from Catawba County Superior Court. Crystal’s mother, Deborah Townley, and her brother, Paul Johnson, described her as a sweet, gentle spirit who loved her children and said the family has been profoundly affected by the loss.

If anyone knew Crystal or has information about the events of April 23, 2019, please share what you know.