In the winter of 2016, in Battle Creek, Michigan, the life of 28-year-old Robert Jason Barroso II was tragically cut short. On December 27, what began as a dispute between lifelong friends escalated into a fatal encounter that would leave one man dead and the other facing a murder charge. The man accused was Stephen Getter, who was 29 at the time.
The conflict between Barroso and Getter reportedly stemmed from a tumultuous romantic entanglement involving a woman with whom both men had
been involved. Tensions had been simmering for some time, with the two having previously fought over the woman. On the morning of his death, Barroso sent a text message to Getter, challenging him to a fight. This led to a confrontation in a wooded area in Lee Township.
The altercation turned violent, resulting in Barroso's death. An autopsy would later reveal that he had sustained five gunshot wounds to his back and approximately seven stab wounds to his head, face, and neck, one of which penetrated his skull and brain. Barroso's body was discovered frozen in the wooded area on January 6, 2017, after Getter led police to the location.
Following the discovery, Stephen Getter was arrested and charged with open murder and felony firearm. During his trial in Calhoun County Circuit Court, Getter claimed he acted in self-defense, testifying that Barroso had come at him with a knife. He stated that he did not realize all the gunshots had struck Barroso in the back until the pathologist's testimony. Getter also recounted that after shooting his friend, an enraged and panicked state led him to stab Barroso. He testified that after being shot, Barroso said, 'Thank you. Just finish it.' This, Getter claimed, caused him to snap. The jury, after deliberation, found Stephen Getter guilty of first-degree murder, rejecting his claim of self-defense.
