In the quiet, rural outskirts of Fort Dodge, Iowa, the evening of January 28, 2024, was shattered by a tragic event that claimed the lives of three people. Molly Barlow, a 39-year-old White/Caucasian woman, died from gunshot wounds in what authorities have described as a double murder and suicide. The incident also resulted in the death of her mother, 63-year-old Phyllis J.
Versteeg.
The grim discovery was made after a juvenile inside the home called 911 at approximately 7:40 p.m., reporting that two people had been shot and that the suspect had fled on foot. When Webster County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the residence located at 2101 140th Street, they found Molly Barlow and her mother in the garage, both having sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by the deputies, both women were pronounced dead at the scene.
A search of the area surrounding the home led to the discovery of a deceased male, identified as Molly Barlow's 41-year-old husband, Duran M. Barlow. Authorities reported that he appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The investigation concluded that Duran Barlow was the suspect in the shooting deaths of his wife and mother-in-law. With the primary suspect deceased, law enforcement officials have stated that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Molly Barlow was a 2003 graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High and held a cosmetology degree from LaJames. She was the owner and operator of the "Top Knot" salon, where many of her clients became close friends. Described as a loving mother, her greatest joy was her three daughters. The community has since rallied around the three orphaned girls, establishing a memorial fund to support them.
