A devoted mother's life was tragically cut short in what authorities have described as a chilling murder-for-hire plot. Markeshia Stone, a 33-year-old female, was fatally shot in her Baton Rouge, Louisiana, apartment on the night of October 12, 2022. The ensuing investigation would unravel a story of betrayal, leading to the arrest of her own teenage daughter and another teen.
The incident unfolded at the Highland Club apartment complex on Jefferson Highway, where Stone was shot multiple times while her other children were in the residence. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but ultimately succumbed to her injuries. The initial shock and grief of her loved ones would soon be compounded by the horrifying details of the police investigation that followed.
Authorities swiftly identified two 16-year-old suspects: Markeshia Stone's daughter, Jermyne Lewis, and Dwayne Barfield. Investigators allege that Lewis orchestrated the killing, paying Barfield a few hundred dollars to shoot her mother. The reported motive behind this tragic act was a disagreement between Lewis and her mother over where the teenager wanted to live. According to reports, just before the fatal shots were fired, Lewis allegedly led her younger siblings into another room.
Both teenagers were taken into custody, and law enforcement officials reported that both confessed to their roles in the crime. Barfield admitted to being the shooter and stated that Lewis had solicited his help. Lewis also confessed to her part in planning her mother's murder. Subsequently, Jermyne Lewis pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a life sentence, with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Dewayne Barfield was arrested and booked for second-degree murder and juvenile in possession of a firearm, and is awaiting trial.
