Dollie Edwards, an 84-year-old white female, died on March 1, 1977, in Lumberton, North Carolina. Her death was initially attributed to a strange stomach virus, but further investigation revealed a more sinister cause. Dollie Edwards was under the care of Velma Barfield, a home health nurse who had a history of criminal activity, including writing bad checks and serving time in prison.
Barfield later confessed to the murder of Dollie Edwards, along with several other victims.
Velma Barfield, born Margie Velma Bullard, was a serial killer who preyed on elderly individuals under her care. She was convicted of one murder but eventually confessed to six murders in total. Barfield's method of killing involved poisoning her victims with arsenic, which caused symptoms such as intense diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. These symptoms were initially mistaken for natural illnesses, allowing Barfield to evade suspicion for some time.
The investigation into Dollie Edwards' death began after the suspicious deaths of other individuals under Barfield's care. Montgomery Edwards, Dollie's husband, had died just over a month before her, also exhibiting similar symptoms. The pattern of deaths raised concerns, leading authorities to re-examine the circumstances surrounding Dollie's death. Autopsies and toxicology reports confirmed the presence of arsenic in the victims' systems, implicating Barfield in their murders.
Velma Barfield was arrested and charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder. During her trial, the prosecution presented evidence of her involvement in the deaths of Dollie Edwards, Montgomery Edwards, and several other victims. Barfield's defense argued that she suffered from a mental illness and was not fully aware of her actions. However, the jury found her guilty, and she was sentenced to death.
Barfield's case garnered significant media attention and sparked debates about capital punishment and the treatment of mentally ill offenders. Despite appeals and efforts to commute her sentence, Velma Barfield was executed by lethal injection on November 2, 1984. She was the first woman in the United States to be executed after the 1976 resumption of capital punishment and the first woman to be executed by lethal injection.
The tragic death of Dollie Edwards and the subsequent investigation into Velma Barfield's crimes highlighted the vulnerabilities of elderly individuals in need of care and the importance of thorough background checks for caregivers. The case also underscored the need for vigilance and awareness in identifying potential signs of abuse or foul play in similar situations.
