In the late summer of 2015, the community of Starks, Louisiana, was rocked by the tragic death of 33-year-old Jody Lee Barlow. A U.S. Army veteran who had served with the 1st Special Forces in Iraq, Barlow was working as a pipeline inspector, a job that took him across the country. He was a married man who enjoyed an active outdoor lifestyle with his wife, including traveling, hiking, boating, and camping.
He was also an avid hunter and enjoyed mud riding with his family and friends.
On August 26, 2015, Barlow's life was cut short when he was found deceased in a wooded area off Old River Road in Starks. An autopsy later confirmed that he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head. The investigation into his death began after his burned-out truck and trailer were discovered on Greenmore Road, approximately 10 miles from where his body was located. Witnesses had reported seeing black smoke in that area on the morning of August 26th.
The investigation, aided by surveillance footage from local stores and tips from the public, quickly led authorities to a prime suspect: 21-year-old Zachary Bench of Vinton. Investigators determined that robbery was the motive, as Barlow's truck, trailer, an ATV, and other items were missing. Bench was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree murder, armed robbery, and obstruction of justice. While the two men knew each other, it was not believed to be a close friendship.
During his trial in March 2017, Zachary Bench testified in his own defense, claiming that he and Barlow had been driving around for several hours while Barlow was drinking and taking pills. Bench alleged that Barlow became increasingly aggressive and that a confrontation ensued in a remote area. According to Bench, after they had both fired Barlow's rifle, an argument broke out. He claimed that he shot Barlow in self-defense after Barlow first reached for a revolver and then came at him with the rifle. After the shooting, Bench admitted to panicking, hiding Barlow's body, and later burning his truck, trailer, and utility vehicle. He also stated that he melted down the weapons used.
The jury, however, did not find Bench's testimony credible. In his closing arguments, the prosecutor pointed out that the defense had portrayed Bench as a compulsive liar and that his testimony was a self-serving attempt to avoid conviction. The jury ultimately found Zachary Bench guilty of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice but not guilty of armed robbery with a firearm. In June 2017, a judge sentenced Bench to life in prison for the murder conviction, with an additional 40 years for obstruction of justice, to be served consecutively. The judge called Bench's testimony 'fake and dishonest' and stated that Bench had 'unnecessarily soiled' Barlow's reputation during the trial.
