In the early hours of a Sunday morning in Memphis, Tennessee, the life of 33-year-old Maria Barton was tragically cut short. On October 7, 2018, police responded to a call of a shooting at the Woodlake Apartment complex located at 3304 W. Woodlake Circle. Upon arrival at approximately 2:40 a.m., officers discovered Barton inside a black sedan in the parking lot.
She had sustained a fatal gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe the motive for the shooting was a robbery or an attempted carjacking. Evidence at the scene, including Barton's purse and other belongings scattered nearby, suggested a struggle had taken place. Residents of the apartment complex reported hearing a loud 'boom-like' sound followed by a scream, after which there was silence. Despite the initial investigation, no suspects were immediately identified, and no arrests were made in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
As time passed, Maria Barton's case grew cold. The Memphis Police Department's Cold Case Team has since taken over the investigation, appealing to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough. Barton's mother, Jacqueline Barton, has also made public pleas for anyone with knowledge of the crime to come forward, expressing her hope that her daughter did not suffer in her final moments. She is now raising Maria's son. The case of who killed Maria Barton remains unsolved, with her family still seeking answers and justice.
