Sheila LaBarre (born Sheila Kay Bailey on July 4, 1958) is an American murderer and possible serial killer. She was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, with no prospect of parole after being convicted of killing two men, Kenneth Countie and Michael Deloge, in Epping, New Hampshire. At the time of the crimes, LaBarre lived in Epping (Rockingham County) on a farm.

Sheila LaBarre
Born
Sheila Kay Bailey

(1958-07-04) July 4, 1958 (age 65)
Conviction(s)First degree murder (2 counts)
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment without parole
Details
Victims2–4
Span of crimes
2004–2006
CountryUnited States
State(s)New Hampshire
Date apprehended
April 2, 2006

She regularly enticed younger men to her farm, where she would torture and control them.

At her trial she claimed she was an angel, sent by God to punish pedophiles.[1] She accused the two men she killed of being pedophiles.[2]

Her case is featured on the Season 5, Episode 3, titled "Crazy in Love", from the show Deadly Sins and the show Signs of a Psychopath, Season 6, Episode 6, titled "He Had It Coming", broadcast on Investigation Discovery.

Biography edit

LaBarre was born Sheila Kaye Bailey in Alabama in 1958. She has a sister, Lynn Noojin. She had a difficult, abusive upbringing, as she, her sister and mother were sexually, physically, and verbally abused by her alcoholic father, and he would bring other men over to partake in sexually assaulting Sheila.[3][4] She graduated from Fort Payne High School in 1976.[5]

After marrying Ronnie Jennings, she was known as Sheila Bailey Jennings. She wanted to divorce Ronnie, but he refused to divorce her for some time.[5] In the early 1980s, LaBarre was held in a psychiatric facility after attempting suicide. Noojin testified that her sister had told her an orderly tried to rape her while in the mental hospital.[6]

She married John Baxter in January 1981.[7]

LaBarre moved from Fort Payne to Epping, New Hampshire, in 1987 after answering a personal ad placed by Wilfred "Bill" LaBarre, a chiropractor. She never legally married Bill LaBarre, but took his last name ("Sheila LaBarre"), and they lived together from 1987 until his death at age 74 in 2000.[8][9] Bill LaBarre had been married twice before.[10] However, Sheila LaBarre married a Jamaican citizen named Wayne Ennis in York, Maine, on August 22, 1995.[8][11] She then divorced Ennis in 1996.[12] In April 1997, Sheila LaBarre got a restraining order against Ennis after he had allegedly repeatedly assaulted her.[12]

After Bill's death, Sheila LaBarre inherited his farm. She said she was his common-law wife. His children from a previous relationship attempted to contest the will to get money and property, but were informed they had a 50/50 chance of success and would have to pay $50,000 upfront.[13] After LaBarre's arrest there was speculation that she may have killed Bill,[14][15] an allegation which LaBarre has denied.[16]

Crimes edit

Kenny Countie edit

Kenny Countie met her via a personal ad in 2006 at Wilmington, Massachusetts, when he was 24. He moved in with her shortly after meeting her.[1] Countie was described as having a low IQ and "child like" trust. LaBarre made a recording of him vomiting whilst she accused him of being a pedophile. She stabbed him to death and then burnt his body. The police were able to identify his DNA from his army records.

Countie's mother subsequently accused the Epping Police Department of negligence. Prior to his death, he had been seen in a Walmart store, bruised and burned, in a wheelchair. Her lawsuit against the two police officers who had seen him in the store was rejected in 2010.[17]

Michael Deloge edit

Deloge was LaBarre's boyfriend, who lived with her at her farm. He was last seen alive in 2005. A bone, a spent shell casing and his birth certificate were found in the septic tank of the farm in 2008. It is unknown how he died.[18] His mother informed the police that she was worried LaBarre was trying to kill him.[19]

Arrest edit

An arrest warrant was issued on April 1, 2006, for Sheila LaBarre, for charges of first degree murder.[13] She was arrested on April 2, and the police conducted a three-week search of her farm,[20] which led to the discovery of three human toes which forensic analysis determined did not belong to either Kenny Countie or Michael Deloge.[16]

Trial edit

The jury visited LaBarre's farm and the Walmart where she was seen with Countie. LaBarre attended too, wearing a stun belt. LaBarre pleaded not guilty to murdering Countie and Deloge on the grounds of insanity. Her defense attorney described her as a "deeply, deeply sick individual".[21] At trial in May 2008, psychiatrists testified that LaBarre was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and delusional disorder.[22][23] James Brackett testified in court that he was in an abusive relationship with LaBarre for six years.[24]

LaBarre's ex-husband Wayne Ennis claimed that she had asked him to kill Wilfred.[25] Wilfred LaBarre's daughter Laura Melisi claimed that LaBarre had threatened to shoot people. She stated she always disliked Sheila LaBarre, and had warned her father against pursuing a relationship.[26] Her plea of not guilty by reason of insanity was rejected by the jury. They found her guilty and LaBarre was sentenced to life in prison without parole in June 2008.[27][28]

Her appeal in 2010 was rejected.[29] LaBarre is currently serving her sentence at NH Correctional Facility for Women.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Murder Conviction for Woman Who Claimed She Was Pedophile-Punishing Angel". Fox News. 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  2. ^ Lara Bricker. "Insanity defense: LaBarre pleads not guilty in 2 murders". SeacoastOnline.com. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  3. ^ "Dover NH, Rochester NH, Portsmouth NH, Sanford ME". Fosters.com. 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  4. ^ "Avenging 'angel' cries on jury tour". SeacoastOnline.com. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  5. ^ a b Benson, Michael (March 2012). The Burn Farm - Michael Benson - Google Books. Pinnacle Books. ISBN 9780786031887. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  6. ^ Sister Describes LaBarre's Stay At Hospital, retrieved 2021-08-22
  7. ^ Flynn, Kevin (2009-12-29). Wicked Intentions: A Remote Farmhouse, A Beautiful Temptress, and the Lovers ... - Kevin Flynn - Google Books. Macmillan. ISBN 9780312575779. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  8. ^ a b "LaBarre married, divorced while claiming to be common-law wife » EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA". Eagletribune.com. 20 September 2006. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  9. ^ "Wilfred LaBarre's obituary".
  10. ^ "Obituary of Wilfred Joseph LaBarre | Lane Memorial Library". Hampton.lib.nh.us. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  11. ^ The Associated Press. "LaBarre wants divorce records sealed". SouthCoastToday.com. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  12. ^ a b Benson, Michael (March 2012). The Burn Farm - Michael Benson - Google Books. Pinnacle Books. ISBN 9780786031887. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  13. ^ a b "Woman Wanted for Murder | Lane Memorial Library". Hampton.lib.nh.us. 2006-04-01. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  14. ^ Dinan, Elizabeth (9 May 2006). "Murder probe: Autopsy revisited". seacoastonline.com. The Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  15. ^ Bricker, Lara (6 September 2009). "New York true crime author pens book on LaBarre murders". seacoastonline.com. The Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  16. ^ a b West, Nancy (3 July 2012). "Human toes found near Sheila LaBarre's Epping horse farm may lead to new homicide probe". unionleader.com. New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Mother of LaBarre victim accuses police of negligence | Local News - WMUR Home". Wmur.com. 2012-09-02. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  18. ^ "LaBarre admits to two murders » New Hampshire » EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA". Eagletribune.com. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  19. ^ "New details of LaBarre case revealed » New Hampshire » EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA". Eagletribune.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  20. ^ "Details revealed in murder case against Sheila LaBarre » New Hampshire » EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA". Eagletribune.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  21. ^ Lara Bricker. "Insanity defense: LaBarre pleads not guilty in two murders". SeacoastOnline.com. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  22. ^ "Dover NH, Rochester NH, Portsmouth NH, Sanford ME". Fosters.com. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  23. ^ "Dover NH, Rochester NH, Portsmouth NH, Sanford ME". Fosters.com. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  24. ^ "Sheila LaBarre's ex-boyfriend says he is lucky to be alive". SeacoastOnline.com. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  25. ^ "Ex-husband says LaBarre asked him to murder chiropractor » Merrimack Valley » EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA". Eagletribune.com. 5 October 2006. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  26. ^ "Woman Wanted For Murder". SeacoastOnline.com. February 1, 2011. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
  27. ^ "Murder experts analyze LaBarre: Call her pattern of behavior similar to that of serial killer". Fosters.com. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  28. ^ "New Hampshire jury says Sheila LaBarre was sane; sentenced to life in prison | Local News". eagletribune.com. 2008-06-21. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  29. ^ "State of New Hampshire v. Sheila K. LaBarre". Retrieved 2015-08-05.