Pair arrested after police find wife’s disabled sister locked in room, defecating on herself

Written by: E. George

Published December 7, 2023 @ 9:30 PM ET

Warning: The following story contains information regarding physical violence against/neglect of disabled/elderly persons.

Updated January 1, 2024 @ 2:30 PM ET

On December 8th, an order denying bond was filed for Jerry Barber, the court citing “the defendant poses a significant threat or danger to another person, to the community, or to property in the community pending trial.”

A bond hearing for Bobbie Jo Barber is being held on January 12th.

Both are currently being held in the Baldwin County Jail.

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ga. – Baldwin County Sheriff’s officers conducted a welfare check on a 33-year-old woman at a Milledgeville residence on November 28, 2023, and found her in deplorable conditions and tenuous health. The caller, the victim’s aunt, said she believed the victim was being “held against her will” in a front bedroom.

Upon arrival, the officers peered into the window of the front room. Although they could not see anyone, “a strong foul odor was coming from the bedroom.”

After no one responded to their knocking, they “left the front porch and started to walk towards the rear of the residence,” where they saw 32-year-old Bobbie Jo Barber. When they asked her to take them to the victim, her sister, she said she “would rather wait for her husband and that she did not want to go to jail.”

She acquiesced when they asked again and led them through the home to a door “closed with a wire coat hanger.” She handed them two bottles of the victim’s medication.

One of the officers “was able to open the door to the bedroom” just enough to see the victim, who “was sitting in a fetal position” in a chair. The officer noted, “I could tell she was in very poor health.”

The victim “was severely malnourished and had defecated on herself.” The officers requested supervisors and EMS to respond to the home.

Bobbie Jo Barber’s husband, 32-year-old Jerry Kenneth Barber, III, arrived and “started walking to the residence very rapidly.” Additional law enforcement arrived and observed the conditions of the home.

Officers arrested and handcuffed Bobbie Jo Barber and Jerry Barber, III. From the rear of a patrol car, Bobbie Jo explained that her two daughters were in the second and third grades.

Officers transported the couple to the Baldwin County Jail. They each face charges of false imprisonment and exploiting/inflicting pain to/depriving essential services to a disabled/elderly person.

EMS arrived at the residence and determined the victim needed to be transported to the hospital. One of the officers could not open the bedroom door “due to items piled up behind” it, so he “had to break the door in order to have enough room to help get the victim out.”

When they saw that she wore only a shirt, they covered her up and assisted her into an ambulance, where she was transported to Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin Hospital.

DFACS responded to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office to assist with placing the couple’s juvenile children with their grandfather.

This is an active case.

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

I was dispatched to [2700 BLOCK] Irwinton Road in reference to a welfare check on 33 year old [VICTIM #1]. The complainant believed her to be held against her will in the front, right room of the residence. The complainant was [VICTIM #1]’s aunt, [REDACTED].

Upon arrival, I went to the window of the front right room, where I could see inside. A strong, foul odor was coming from the bedroom. I knocked, but there was no response, and I could not see anyone inside the bedroom. As Deputy Carpenter and I left the front porch and started to walk towards the rear of the residence, I made contact with Bobbie Jo Barber. Bobbie identified herself and I asked her what her relationship is to [VICTIM #1]. Bobbie stated [VICTIM #1] is her sister.

I asked Bobbie if [VICTIM #1] was inside the residence, to which Bobbie answered yes. I then asked Bobbie if she could take me to [VICTIM #1] so that I could see her and make sure she was okay. Bobbie stated she would rather wait for her husband and that she did not want to go to jail. I asked Bobbie again to show me where [VICTIM #1] was.

Bobbie lead me through the rear door of the residence, through the kitchen, to a door that was closed with a wire coat hanger, which is the door of the front right bedroom of the residence. Bobbie also provided a bottle of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and a bottle of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] that [VICTIM #1] is supposed to be taking.

I was able to open the door to the bedroom where [VICTIM #1] was located enough for me to be able to see [VICTIM #1]. [VICTIM #1] was sitting in a fetal position in a black leather chair and I could tell she was in very poor health. [VICTIM #1] was severely malnourished and had defecated on herself. I immediately had Deputy Carpenter stay with Bobbie and called for supervisors to come to the residence along with EMS due to [VICTIM #1]’s condition.

As I was talking on the radio, Jerry Kenneth Barber III pulled up to the residence in his 2011 Kia Sorento (Georgia tag [REDACTED]) and started walking to the residence very rapidly. I advised Deputy Carpenter of Jerry’s arrival and went to the back of the residence to make sure everything was peaceful until other deputies arrived. After Sergeant S. Tapley, Detective C. Burrell, Sergeant M. Condon and Deputy D. Smith arrived, I took them to show them the condition [VICTIM #1] was in and the living conditions inside the house.

It was determined that both Bobbie and Jerry needed to be placed under arrest. We stepped outside and placed Bobbie and Jerry in double locking handcuffs. Bobbie was put in the back of my patrol vehicle and Jerry in the back of Deputy Carpenter’s.

EMS arrived on the scene and saw [VICTIM #1]. EMS personnel [REDACTED] stated we needed to get [VICTIM #1] out of the residence and to the hospital. I attempted to open the door to the room where [VICTIM #1] was further, however, I could not due to items piled up behind the door. I had to break the door in order to have enough room to help get [VICTIM #1] out of the room. [VICTIM #1] only had a shirt on and it was clear she had defecated on herself. [VICTIM #1] was then covered up and assisted up. With my help, [VICTIM #1] walked over to the stretcher. [REDACTED] stated [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and she needed to go to the hospital immediately. [VICTIM #1] was transported by EMS to Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin Hospital.

I spoke with Bobbie, who was sitting in the back of my patrol car, about her children. Bobbie stated her daughter, [REDACTED BY AGENCY], was a student at Midway Hills Primary in the 3rd grade and her other daughter, [REDACTED BY AGENCY], was a student at Midway Hills Academy in the 2nd grade. Due to the living conditions of the residence, DFCS was contacted.

Bobbie and Jerry were then transported to the Baldwin County Jail. A booking sheet was completed for both and a hold for detectives was placed on them as well.

Both Bobbie’s and Jerry’s cell phones were placed in airplane mode, turned off and collected for evidence along with the medications Bobbie provided that were for [VICTIM #1]. Once at the office, the medication was counted. The [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had been filled on 11/23/2022 and had 20 out of 60 pills remaining in the bottle. The [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was filled on 01/27/2023 and had 68 out of 90 pills remaining in the bottle. Both bottles of pills and both cell phones were placed in locker #007 along with a completed evidence sheets.

DFCS personnel [REDACTED] responded to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and assisted in placing both the children with Jerry Kenneth Barber II, who is their grandfather.

The case has been turned over to detectives for further investigation.

[End of Narrative]