Loria Ann Deberry, a 28-year-old African American woman, was tragically murdered on October 5, 1988, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her death was part of a string of violent crimes that terrorized the city and led to a significant police investigation.
The man responsible for her death was identified as James Antonio Barnes, a 44-year-old deliveryman. Barnes confessed to the murders of three women, including Loria Ann Deberry, as well as the shootings of two other individuals.
His method of operation involved using a. 32 automatic pistol to carry out these attacks. The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern among the victims, which led authorities to classify the crimes as the work of a serial killer. Barnes would pick up his victims, drive them to a different location, and then shoot them.
A dedicated task force, comprising officers from the homicide, vice, and sex crimes bureaus, was assembled to investigate the series of shootings. Their efforts led them to Barnes, who was placed under 24-hour surveillance before his arrest. In addition to his confession, ballistics tests confirmed that the gun in his possession was the weapon used in the killings. Barnes was charged with the first-degree murders of Loria Ann Deberry, Sharon Denise Moore, and Joyce Thomas. He ultimately pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Barnes was released from prison on April 10, 2016.
