Duncan Eric Meekins: The Teenage Accomplice
Overview
Duncan Eric Meekins was a key, albeit younger, member of a violent gang led by the three Briley brothers—Linwood, James "J.B.", and Anthony. In 1979, this group unleashed a seven-month reign of terror on Richmond, Virginia, and its surrounding areas, committing a series of brutal home invasions, robberies, rapes, and murders. The gang's spree was marked by its randomness and extreme violence, leaving at least 11 people dead and a community paralyzed with fear. Meekins, a teenager at the time, participated in several of the attacks. His eventual capture and decision to become the prosecution's star witness were instrumental in ending the Brileys' rampage and securing their convictions. In exchange for his testimony, Meekins escaped the death penalty and received a life sentence.
The Briley Gang
The core of the gang consisted of the Briley brothers, who grew up in Richmond. Linwood, the eldest, was the calculating leader and had killed before, having shot a neighbor in 1971 at age 16. James, or J.B., was his violent right-hand man. Anthony, the youngest brother, was also involved, though his role was often considered less direct. Duncan Meekins, a neighbor of the Brileys, was drawn into their orbit and became a willing accomplice in their escalating crimes. The group began their 1979 spree with a home invasion in March, where they tied up a couple, robbed their house, and set it on fire; the couple narrowly escaped with their lives. This incident set the tone for the violence to come, as the gang decided to leave no witnesses behind in their future crimes.
A Spree of Terror
Throughout the spring, summer, and fall of 1979, the Briley gang terrorized Richmond. Their attacks were unpredictable, targeting men and women, black and white, young and old, in various neighborhoods. The violence began on March 21, 1979, with the robbery and shooting death of vending machine serviceman Michael W. McDuffie. Ten days later, Linwood killed 28-year-old Edric Alvin Clark in a dispute.
On April 9, the gang followed 76-year-old Mary Gowen home from her babysitting job, where they beat, raped, robbed, and shot her. On July 4, 17-year-old Christopher M. Phillips was caught trying to break into Linwood's car; the gang beat him, and Linwood crushed his skull with a rock.
The violence escalated in the fall. On September 14, the gang abducted 62-year-old radio disc jockey John Harvey "Johnny G" Gallaher from outside a nightclub. They drove him to an isolated spot on the James River, beat him, and Linwood shot him in the head. His body was found two days later. On September 30, 62-year-old private nurse Mary S. Wilfong was beaten to death and robbed outside her apartment.
Just five days later, on October 5, the gang murdered 79-year-old Blanche Page and her 59-year-old boarder, Charles Garner, in their home only two blocks from the Brileys' own residence. Garner was not only beaten with a baseball bat, but was also found with knives, scissors, and a fork embedded in his back.
Meekins's Role and the Final Murders
Duncan Meekins was directly responsible for one of the slayings. On October 14, during a fight at a gambling house, one of the Briley brothers threw Meekins a gun, which he used to shoot and kill 32-year-old Thomas E. Saunders. Prosecutors later stated he was never formally prosecuted for this specific homicide as part of his plea agreement.
The gang's final, and perhaps most shocking, crime occurred on October 19, 1979. While already under police surveillance, the four men broke into the home of Harvey Wilkerson. Inside, they raped his 23-year-old girlfriend, Judy Barton, who was eight months pregnant. They then murdered Wilkerson, Barton, and her 5-year-old son, Harvey. This triple homicide was the final act that led to the gang's downfall.
The Victims
The victims of the Briley gang came from all walks of life, their connection being the random, tragic violence that ended their lives.
- Michael W. McDuffie — A vending machine serviceman who was shot and killed during a robbery on March 21, 1979.
- Edric Alvin Clark, 28 — Shot and killed by Linwood Briley on March 31, 1979, following a dispute.
- Mary Gowen, 76 — A grandmother who was followed home from her babysitting job on April 9, 1979, then raped, robbed, and murdered.
- Christopher M. Phillips, 17 — Killed on July 4, 1979, after Linwood Briley caught him near his car.
- John Harvey "Johnny G" Gallaher, 62 — A well-known local radio disc jockey who was abducted and executed on September 14, 1979.
- Mary S. Wilfong, 62 — A private nurse who was ambushed, beaten, and robbed outside her home on September 30, 1979.
- Blanche Page, 79 — Murdered in her home on October 5, 1979, just a short distance from where her killers lived.
- Charles Garner, 59 — A boarder in Blanche Page's home who was brutally killed the same night.
- Thomas E. Saunders, 32 — Shot and killed by Duncan Meekins during a dispute on October 14, 1979.
- Harvey Wilkerson — Murdered in his home on October 19, 1979, alongside his girlfriend and her son.
- Judy Barton, 23 — Eight months pregnant, she was raped and murdered in the gang's final attack on October 19, 1979.
- Harvey Barton, 5 — Judy Barton's young son, who was killed with his mother and Harvey Wilkerson.
Investigation and Capture
The sheer variety of victims and methods initially baffled police, who did not immediately connect the string of violent crimes. However, as the murders grew more frequent and audacious, law enforcement intensified their efforts. By October 1979, the Brileys were under surveillance. Following the horrific murders of the Wilkerson-Barton family, police moved in. On October 22, 1979, Linwood, James, and Anthony Briley were arrested. Duncan Meekins was also taken into custody.
During interrogation, police offered the teenage Meekins a plea agreement: testify against the Brileys in exchange for escaping the death penalty. Meekins accepted the offer and provided a full, detailed confession of the gang's seven-month crime spree. His testimony became the cornerstone of the prosecution's case, providing an insider's account of the planning and execution of the murders.
Trial and Sentence
With Duncan Meekins as their star witness, prosecutors were able to secure convictions against all three Briley brothers. Linwood Briley was convicted of multiple counts of murder and sentenced to death for the abduction and murder of John Gallaher. James "J.B." Briley received two death sentences for the murders of Judy and Harvey Barton. Both were eventually executed by electric chair, Linwood in 1984 and James in 1985. Anthony Briley, whose direct participation as the "triggerman" could not be proven, received a life sentence with the possibility of parole.
For his cooperation, Meekins was convicted of first-degree murder for his role in the death of Harvey Wilkerson and for his involvement in other robberies and murders. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 100 years. For his own protection from the Brileys and their associates, he was incarcerated under an alias in an out-of-state prison.
Aftermath and Legacy
The capture and conviction of the Briley gang brought an end to one of the most terrifying periods in Richmond's history. Linwood and James Briley later became infamous for engineering the largest death-row escape in U.S. history in May 1984, though they were recaptured within three weeks.
Duncan Meekins has remained in prison since his conviction. He has been denied parole on multiple occasions since becoming eligible in the 1990s. In an unusual turn, the two former prosecutors who put him away, Robert J. Rice and Warren Von Schuch, later advocated for his parole. They argued that without Meekins's testimony, the Briley brothers' killing spree might have continued, and they had promised to speak on his behalf in return for his truthful cooperation. Despite their support, the Virginia Parole Board has repeatedly denied his applications for release.
