Missing Person

Justin Barnett

Justin Leigh Barnett, 23, was last seen on June 2, 1995. His vehicle was later recovered, but his remains have not been found. A woman was charged with capital murder in 2015, according to WBRC, while NamUs continues to list Barnett’s missing-person case as open and unresolved.

Incident date: June 2, 1995
Location: Birmingham, Jefferson County
Independent sources: 5

The record

Justin Leigh Barnett was 23 when he was last seen on June 2, 1995, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s NamUs database. His vehicle was found later, but his remains have not been recovered. NamUs lists the case as open and unresolved, with the Birmingham Police Department as the primary investigating agency.1

WBRC reported that Barnett was reported missing in June 1995 and was never seen or heard from again.5 The station said a Birmingham police cold-case detective began investigating in January 2015 after receiving new information from a person who claimed to have entered a crime scene about an hour after Barnett was killed.5

According to WBRC, investigators came to believe Barnett was killed at an apartment on Sunrise Lane in Birmingham and that his body was taken to Bibb County. Authorities reportedly believed they knew the general burial area but had not identified the exact location.5

WBRC reported that Birmingham police arrested and charged Tricia Abney, then 40, with capital murder in July 2015 after detectives presented their findings to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. Detective Jonathan Ross told the station that Abney confessed during interviews with investigators.5 Those assertions are attributed solely to the 2015 report; the supplied documents do not establish the later disposition of the charge.

The report also said another person whom investigators considered a suspect died by suicide on the day of Abney’s arrest after police began questioning him.5 That person is not named here because the supplied source does not say the person was charged.

Despite the homicide investigation and arrest reported in 2015, NamUs continues to describe Barnett’s missing-person record as open and unresolved and says his remains have not been found.1

Timeline

June 2, 1995Confirmed
Justin Leigh Barnett was last seen, according to NamUs.
1995, later date unknownConfirmed
Barnett's vehicle was found.
January 2015Reported
A Birmingham police cold-case detective began investigating after receiving new information, according to WBRC.
July 22, 2015Reported
Tricia Abney was arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with Barnett's case, according to WBRC.
July 22, 2015Reported
Another person investigators considered a suspect died by suicide after being questioned, according to WBRC.
Current status in supplied NamUs recordConfirmed
The missing-person case is open and unresolved; Barnett's remains have not been found.

Documented claims

Justin Leigh Barnett was 23 at the time of the incident.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Corroborated by 1 additional source: https://www.wbrc.com/story/29643805/woman-charged-with-capital-murder-in-1995-missing-persons-case/
Barnett was last seen on June 2, 1995.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Single-source claim.
Barnett's vehicle was found at a later date.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Single-source claim.
Barnett's remains have not been found, and NamUs lists his case as open and unresolved.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Single-source claim.
The Birmingham Police Department is the primary investigating agency.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Single-source claim.
Barnett was reported missing in June 1995 and was never seen or heard from again.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
A Birmingham police cold-case detective began investigating in January 2015 after receiving information from a person who said he entered a crime scene about an hour after the killing.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
Investigators believed Barnett was killed at an apartment on Sunrise Lane in Birmingham and that his body was transported to Bibb County, where authorities believed they knew the general but not exact burial location.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
Birmingham police arrested Tricia Abney on July 22, 2015, and charged her with capital murder in connection with Barnett's case.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
Detective Jonathan Ross said Abney confessed during interviews with investigators.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
WBRC reported that another person viewed by investigators as a suspect died by suicide on July 22, 2015, after investigators began questioning him.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.

Sources

NamUs Missing Person Case MP29634 — Justin Leigh Barnett — U.S. Department of Justice NamUsOpen
Ala. woman charged in 1995 missing case now called murder — CBS NewsOpen
Cold case detective testifies — AL.comOpen
Friend of cold case victim speaks out after 20 years — CBS 42Open
Woman charged with capital murder in 1995 missing persons case — WBRCOpen