In what was a tragic end to a troubled relationship, 50-year-old Anna Hamilton-Barton, a respected Detroit police officer, was found dead in her Redford Township, Michigan, home on June 12, 2014. Her death was the result of multiple gunshot wounds, an act of violence that starkly contrasted with the peace she sought to uphold in her professional life.
The discovery was made after a concerned family member contacted authorities, leading police to the residence on Kinloch Street.
Inside the home, investigators also found the body of her 47-year-old husband, Damon Barton. He had died from a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office officially ruled the case a murder-suicide, confirming that Barton had shot and killed his wife before taking his own life. In the wake of the tragic discovery, Redford Township police confirmed that they were not searching for any other suspects.
Further investigation into the couple's life revealed a history of domestic turmoil. Family members reported that Hamilton-Barton and her husband had been experiencing significant marital problems. Court records indicated that she had filed for divorce in April 2012, although the case was later dismissed. It also came to light that Damon Barton had a violent past, with prior convictions for serious offenses, including carrying a concealed weapon and careless discharge of a weapon causing death. At the time he murdered his wife, he was on parole for first-degree home invasion and assault with intent to do great bodily harm. The incident cut short the life of a dedicated officer who was described by her colleagues as well-loved and who was anticipating the joy of becoming a grandmother.
