On a tragic day in October of 1973, the city of Lexington, Kentucky, was shaken by a brutal crime that claimed the lives of Reverend John Kirtley Barnes, his daughter, and his son. Rev. Barnes, a 47-year-old White/Caucasian male, was a respected Episcopal priest in his community. The horrifying events unfolded on October 1st, when two inmates escaped from federal custody in Lexington.
The escaped convicts, identified as William Sloan and Wilmer Scott, embarked on a violent crime spree
following their breakout. After carjacking a woman and stealing a rifle from her home, they made their way to the residence of Rev. Barnes. Inside the home, they subjected the family to unspeakable horrors. Rev. Barnes, his 16-year-old daughter Francine, and his 14-year-old son, John E. Barnes, were all shot and killed. The bodies of the three victims were later discovered in a bathroom within their home. The brutality of the act sent shockwaves through the quiet community, leaving a lasting scar. At the time of the murders, Rev. Barnes's wife was away attending a church convention.
Following the murders at the Barnes's home, Sloan and Scott continued their rampage. They fled the scene in the Barnes's family car and drove approximately 80 miles to Falmouth, Kentucky. There, they committed additional murders at a motel before they were finally apprehended by law enforcement, bringing an end to their deadly spree.
William Sloan and Wilmer Scott were arrested and faced legal proceedings for their heinous crimes. The case drew significant attention due to the shocking nature of the violence and the security lapses that allowed for their initial escape. The murders of the Barnes family remain one of the most infamous and brutal crimes in Lexington's history, a somber reminder of a day of terror that befell the community.
