In the spring of 2005, the life of Michelle Barnhart, a 45-year-old Caucasian woman, was tragically cut short in what was determined to be a murder-suicide. On Tuesday, April 5, 2005, police in Muscatine, Iowa, were called to her home after reports of gunshots. Inside, they discovered Michelle's body; she had been fatally shot.
The investigation quickly led authorities to her boyfriend, 38-year-old Shawn Taylor.
A short time after finding Michelle, law enforcement located Taylor's body in his SUV at Wildcat Den State Park in Muscatine County. He had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators concluded that Taylor had shot and killed Barnhart before taking his own life. The two were said to have been romantically involved. A neighbor described them as friendly, quiet, and normal people.
Michelle Linn Barnhart was born on December 9, 1959, to Weldon and Gloria Rahlf Barnhart. She was a mother to three children: a son, Travis Parent, and two daughters, Andrea Arlen and Danielle Reimers. She was also a grandmother. She worked as a service writer at the Tire and Lube at Wal-Mart and was a member of the Eagles. Her family remembered her as someone who loved being with her children and family very much. She also enjoyed chatting on Yahoo and had many good friends.
