In August of 2015, the body of 25-year-old Anthony Barber was discovered behind a vacant home in the 1700 block of Ricardo Street in Valdosta, Georgia. An investigation revealed that the male victim had sustained several gunshot wounds to his torso.
The Valdosta Police Department's investigation into the murder of Anthony Barber soon pointed to Timothy Bernard Wiggins Jr. as a suspect. Believing he was staying with relatives, authorities tracked him to Miami, Florida. In September 2015, U.S. Marshals apprehended Wiggins in Miami in connection with an outstanding warrant for Barber's murder. Following his arrest, extradition proceedings were initiated to bring him back to Lowndes County to face trial.
In March 2018, Timothy Wiggins Jr. stood trial for the murder of Anthony Barber. During the trial, prosecutors presented testimony from three witnesses who identified Wiggins, also known as “Nim-Nim,” as the shooter. One witness recounted hearing Wiggins call Barber “a snitch and a snake.” The prosecution also argued that Wiggins had attempted to alter his appearance by shaving his head and had fled to Miami to evade arrest. The defense pointed out inconsistencies in witness descriptions of the shooter's build and how he left the scene. Despite the lack of physical evidence such as fingerprints or DNA linking Wiggins to the crime, the jury delivered a guilty verdict for malice murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony after only an hour of deliberation. Following the verdict, a judge sentenced Timothy Wiggins Jr. to life in prison.
