What happened to Willie James Barden? Details explored ahead of Snapped on Oxygen

Wille Barden, full name Willie James Barden, 55 years of age, a Mississippi fireman, was killed in cold blood on November 12, 2019, in his Center Hill Road residence. The crime officers found his cold and dead body on the bathroom floor of his home.

Following Willie James Barden’s death, the investigations were on a roll and the murderer was taken into custody by the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department, as they determined this homicide to be a case of domestic violence which went too far.

Snapped Season 34 episode 10 titled Felicia Barden will throw light on this brutal homicide that broke apart the Barden Family. The episode is all set to air on September 8, 2024, at 6 PM EST. The official synopsis for the same reads as follows:

"When a devoted husband and father is found shot to death on his bathroom floor, the case is quickly ruled a homicide. As a key witness starts changing their story, detectives must determine if this was an act of self-defense or premeditated murder."

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Willie James Barden was shot dead in his own house by his wife

Joshua Price, Willie James Barden's stepson and Felicia Barden’s son was the first one to report this homicide by calling 911. Reportedly, Joshua was in the office when the killing took place. He got a call from Felicia Barden, who confessed to him that she had killed Willie James Barden.

Panicked, Joshua who was in his office came back to his Olive Branch home and found Willie Barden shot dead and unalived. Reportedly, Price found his mother in an agitated and distressed state and she told Price to throw the DVR, which could have recorded the entire homicide. Joshua listened to her and dumped the evidence in the dustbin.

Later, before the cops could arrive, he found his mother in bed with a gun in her mouth, which he took away and hid in a cupboard so that she would not kill herself next. Reportedly, paramedic Justin Cook who arrived at the crime scene after the 911 call, found Willie shot in the chest, and dead, lying in a pool of blood, on the house bathroom floor, as per reports.

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Investigations and arrest

The video evidence found from the crime scene, which was dumped previously by Joshua was later recovered. The video indicated that Felicia Barden had a firearm on the day of the killing, and that she had moved it from the garage to the inside of the house.

4 cellphones were also found, of which Felicia Barden’s phone was important to aid her arrest. There was a message in Felicia Barden's phone regarding a divorce. Several Google searches regarding divorce, how to get away with murder, and a suicide text were found on the phone.

Reportedly, forensics also found gunpowder residue on the back of the killer’s hand. Joshua was also taken to the station for interrogation, where he revealed that his mother had confessed to him about killing Willie James Barden. In June 2021, at the DeSoto County Circuit Court, Felicia Barden was charged with first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Linda McClure, a neighbor who was interviewed by FOX 13, regarding the murder, revealed that she was a close friend of Willie James Barden. She said that,

"The evil stuff is getting too close to home.....I liked him (Willie)," she said. "He was sweet as he can be and I'm in shock because he's gone."

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To know more about this homicide, watch Snapped Season 34 episode 10, airing soon.