Earlene Hardin Barker was shot to death on August 10, 1982, in her Fort Worth, Texas, home. She was 55 and living with her daughter, Georgia Ann Boteler Reed, who was 34, and Georgia’s young son Scotty. Also in the house that day were Georgia’s boyfriend Bruce Gardner and Robison’s roommate Rickey Bryant.

Larry Keith Robison was later identified as the perpetrator and arrested for the killings. His defense argued he was mentally ill because of drug use; he was convicted for the murders. The crime drew national attention at the time because of its violence and the defense’s mental-health and drug-use claims.