Mark Barton

Mass Murderer

Mark Barton – 1999 Mass Murderer

Overview

On July 29, 1999, Mark Orrin Barton committed one of the deadliest mass shootings in Georgia's history. Barton, a 44-year-old day trader who had suffered heavy financial losses, targeted two Atlanta-area brokerage firms, killing nine people and wounding thirteen others. The attack came just days after he murdered his wife and two children, making the total death toll twelve. Barton’s spree ended in a manhunt and his own suicide.

Background

Mark Barton was once a chemist and later became a self-taught day trader. In the 1990s, he experienced devastating financial losses in the stock market. Known for his erratic behavior and troubled personal life, Barton had a history of domestic violence and mental instability. His financial ruin and personal grievances set the stage for his calculated and deadly rampage.

The Murders of His Family

Before attacking the brokerage firms, Barton murdered his wife, Leigh Ann, in their Stockbridge, Georgia apartment on July 27, 1999. He bludgeoned her to death while she slept. The next day, July 28, he killed his two children from a previous marriage—Matthew, 11, and Mychelle, 8—also by bludgeoning them, likely while they were sleeping. Police later discovered handwritten notes at the scene, in which Barton attempted to justify his actions, blaming his wife for his failures and claiming he wanted to spare his children from a life of financial struggle. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (12)

Leigh Ann Vandiver Barton 27 yr old Female

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Trader commits suicide after killing 12 in gun spree - The Guardian

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