Miss. Governor Haley Barbour pardons man who murdered wife in 1993

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour

(Credit: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

(CBS/AP) JACKSON, Miss. - Just two weeks after a killer was denied parole, Mississippi governor Haley Barbour pardoned the man who murdered his wife and shot another man in the head in 1993.

According to CBS affiliate WCBI, David Glenn Gatlin walked free Sunday.

Gatlin, now 40, was convicted of murdering Tammy Gatlin in 1994 and sentenced to life. According to the Jackson Clarion Ledger newspaper, Gatlin shot his wife in the head as she held their 2-month-old child, and then turned the gun on a man named Randy Walker. Walker survived.

David Ruth, an investigator on the case, told NBC affiliate WLBT that Tammy Gatlin's family received a phone call Saturday saying Gatlin was to be pardoned.

Randy Walker's wife Crystal told the Clarion Ledger that her family is terrified.

"On parole he'd at least have to check in and have some supervision," she said Sunday. "Now he could live beside us, or we could run into him at Walmart. You're always looking over your shoulder."

According to the Clarion Ledger, Gatlin had been part of a program at the governor's mansion, for inmates who earned privileges for good behavior, which may have led to his pardon.

"He's only seen the good David," Walker told the newspaper. "We know it's totally within his right to do this, but we'd feel better if we'd had a chance to talk to him about it."

Walker said she had called the governor's office 17 times to try to discuss the pardon.

Barbour also pardoned two other killers who were part of the same program at his mansion.

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by thomasmc1957 January 11, 2012 1:28 PM EST: So much for the lie that it's the Democrats who are soft on crime!; Reply to this comment

by rwsmith29456 January 10, 2012 8:35 PM EST

This makes me very angry.

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by imsancho42 January 12, 2012 7:35 PM EST: yeah yeah, like this only happens in the south, you are probably one of the morons electing morons like this


by formerlyluvnut January 10, 2012 3:56 PM EST: Just ANOTHER example of why I say, AGAIN, the south is an embarrassment to the rest of the country, civilization and humans in general. The ONLY good thing to come out of the south are pecans, and they are nuts.; Reply to this comment


by wlhoppers January 10, 2012 1:38 PM EST: Sounds like favoritism to me...; Reply to this comment

by Billstevens January 10, 2012 1:27 PM EST

Shooting and killing in this situation is extreme and not my choice, but I suggest that Mr. Walker find his own woman in the future. Many males do NOT appreciate their family being messed with - I have no pity for Walker at all.

Just another dirtbag hiding in the weeds, now crying fear after destroying someone else's family.

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by Montana_native January 12, 2012 1:11 PM EST: Are you saying the wife had it coming? The man shot his wife in the head while she held a 6 week old baby in her arms. This animal then left the baby in it's dead mothers arms. Man you guys in mississippi need some help. And Bill I really hope that you don't have a boy/girl friend. I would fear for their lives.

by amulette January 10, 2012 4:46 AM EST

"Barbour also pardoned two other killers who were part of the same program at his mansion."
Wonder what these three killers "did" for the Gov. while at his mansion.

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by wlhoppers January 10, 2012 1:36 PM EST: Wonder if Barbour is related to Sandusky?


by Cincinnatifan January 10, 2012 1:38 AM EST: Governor Haley Barbour is a national Republican spokesman and was once head of the Republican party, correct? How can the people of Mississippi trust this man to make any more decisions? I think he should be recalled and tossed out of the Republican party. I can't believe the party faithful will tolerate his presence in their midst a moment longer. He's obviously got some sort of mental problem, but it doesn't deserve anyone's sympathy.; Reply to this comment


by Former_Marine_Sgt January 9, 2012 9:58 PM EST: Yup. Only them there liberals and democrats would dare do such a stupid thing. They're soft on Criminals and only want them out so that they can vote Democrat. They want to insure that you aren't safe in your own home. Yup. Them anti-American liberals and democrats sure are a pathetic lot.

Oh wait? What's that you said? The governor is a Republican?

Well, then.....

That Republican Governor sure is doing the right thing. This guy should never have been locked up. It's the Governor's right to insure that people -who are properly checked to make sure they are safe and repent thier sins- are free from prison. Yup, them Republicans sure are smart folk, aint they?; Reply to this comment


by ItsWinston January 9, 2012 9:24 PM EST: Anyone who can shoot his wife in the head while she is holding a baby deserves to serve the entire life sentence. No amount of good behavior should ever be enough to pardon such an atrocious act.; Reply to this comment