Rowland Stuart Taylor, a 56-year-old white male, was a victim of homicide on February 3, 1978, in Lumberton, Robeson County, North Carolina. Taylor was murdered by Velma Barfield, a notorious female serial killer known as the "Death Row Granny". Barfield, who had a history of poisoning her victims, was responsible for the deaths of six individuals, including Taylor.
Velma Barfield, born Margie Velma Bullard on October 29, 1932, in Eastover, North Carolina, had a troubled upbringing marked by abuse and financial hardship. She developed a drug addiction following a hysterectomy and subsequent back pain, which led to significant behavioral changes. Barfield's criminal activities began with writing bad checks, but she eventually escalated to murder.
Barfield's first known victim was her husband, Thomas Burke, who died in a house fire in 1969. She later married Jennings Barfield, who died of heart complications in 1971. In 1974, Barfield's mother, Lillian Bullard, died after experiencing symptoms of intense diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Barfield's next victims were Montgomery and Dollie Edwards, an elderly couple she cared for in Lumberton. Montgomery died in January 1977, and Dollie followed in March 1977, both exhibiting symptoms similar to those of Bullard.
Rowland Stuart Taylor, Barfield's boyfriend and a relative of Dollie Edwards, became her final victim. Taylor's death was initially suspicious, but it was not until Barfield's arrest in May 1978 that the full extent of her crimes was revealed. Barfield confessed to the murders, including that of Taylor, and was subsequently convicted of first-degree murder. She was sentenced to death and became the first woman in the United States to be executed by lethal injection on November 2, 1984.
The investigation into Taylor's death and the subsequent arrest of Velma Barfield brought to light the tragic and chilling story of a woman who preyed on those she was supposed to care for. Barfield's case remains a stark reminder of the potential for darkness within seemingly ordinary individuals.
