'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The fourth episode of People Magazine Presents: Crimes Of The 2010s will focus on the most jaw-dropping story of 2013, showcasing the life of 42-year-old electrical engineer Troy Laferrara. The episode, titled 2013: Match Made in Hell will air on August 22, 2024, on Investigation Discovery.
On November 11, 2013, Troy LaFerrara, a 42-year-old from Sunbury, Pennsylvania, was brutally murdered by a newlywed couple named Miranda and Elytte Barbour. The heinous crime sent shockwaves through the community of Sunbury and garnered national attention—exposing the dark side of online interactions and the extremes of human depravity.
The Barbours' heinous act was premeditated, driven by their insidious desire to kill together, and resulted in a crime that has left an indelible mark on all who learned of it. This article covers 5 key details about Troy LaFerrara's murder, with information ranging from the planning of the murder to its execution, and finally to the aftermath and court case that followed.
Trending
5 main details about Troy LaFerrara's murder
1) The Craigslist trap: How Troy LaFerrara was lured
It was through an innocuous-looking Craigslist ad that Miranda Barbour set events in motion to kill Troy LaFerrara. The ad promised "companionship"—a euphemism common on the site—to anyone willing to pay for it. It was for companionship that LaFerrara replied to the ad, and fell into the deadly trap.
Miranda, 18 at the time, picked Troy LaFerrara up at a local mall and drove him to a remote spot on the pretext of continuing their meeting, while her husband, Elytte Barbour, lay in wait in the backseat of their red Honda CR-V for the go-ahead to execute a deadly scheme. What seemed like a very harmless encounter was in fact part of a premeditated setup for murder.
2) Premeditated murder: The Barbours' plan
"It wasn't a random act. He was hiding in the backseat of the vehicle, and he had covered himself with a blanket," said Chief David Eynouy of Sunbury Police. It turned out Elytte Barbour, 22, was hiding in the backseat of the vehicle, covered under a blanket. The couple had discussed the murder beforehand and even planned out signals.
Miranda Barbour had used Craigslist as a means of meeting several men, and this was not the first time the Barbours had tried to carry out such plans. This particular case resulted from their fascination with murder and a desire to commit some sort of crime together. The planning extended down to the details of the attack so that Elytte would know the exact time to follow through with Miranda's cue.
3) The brutal attack: Stabbing and strangling
Once they were in a secluded area, the attack began. Miranda Barbour took a knife from between the car seats and began stabbing Troy LaFerrara. She said she stabbed him several times in a frenzy of violence as she along with her husband got their thrills from killing.
Her husband, Elytte Barbour played an important role in the murder by using a cord to strangle LaFerrara. It was the combined brutality of stabbing and strangling which caused the death of LaFerrara. According to reports, LaFerrara did fight back, but he was overpowered by the couple. His final moments included choking and gasping for air before succumbing to his injuries.
4) Body disposal: A chilling discovery
In an attempt to get rid of Troy LaFerrara's body after the killing, the Barbours drove around in their vehicle, scouting for a location. They finally settled in a backyard in Sunbury, and resident Brittany Settler found the body the next morning. She was preparing coffee when she saw something strange and found the body of Troy LaFerrara in her garage at the back of her house.
His face was purple. He was lying on the floor surrounded by blood and still had the keys to his vehicle in hand. This discovery led to an immediate investigation, eventually tracing the crime back to the Barbours.
5) The aftermath: Confessions and sentencing
The investigation quickly led to Miranda Barbour after tracing the last call that had been made from Troy LaFerrara's phone. At first, Miranda denied everything, but owing to mounting evidence, she was forced to confess the details of the murder and admit that she and Elytte wanted to experience killing someone together.
The Barbours were arrested afterward and charged with a myriad of offences which ranged from criminal homicide. To avoid the death penalty, both Miranda and Elytte Barbour entered the court's plea of guilty to second-degree murder. They were then sentenced to life imprisonment without parole eligibility, meaning they would spend their remaining years behind bars.
The murder of Troy LaFerrara is a grim reminder of the dangers of online relations and the depth of human cruelty. A simple Craigslist ad opened the door to an advanced case of premeditated murder by a couple who had a more sinister ambition: to kill someone together. The case has been scarring to the community as a prime lesson in vigilance over online encounters.
