Man Indicted In 1975 Girl Scout Murder

Nashville's Most Famous Unsolved Murder: Marcia Trimble, 9, Disappeared 33 Years Ago While Selling Cookies

(AP)  A suspect in the 1975 slaying of a 9-year-old Girl Scout, who disappeared while delivering Girl Scout cookies, has been indicted by a grand jury, prosecutors announced Friday.

Nashville District Attorney Torry Johnson said Jerome Sidney Barrett was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday on charges of first-degree murder and felony murder. The charges were made public Friday after Barrett, who is in jail on charges in another 1975 slaying, was informed of the indictment.

Marcia Trimble disappeared from her upscale neighborhood Feb. 25, 1975. Her body was found 33 days later sticking out from a plastic wading pool in a neighbor's garage, and authorities later said she had been strangled.

The case was Nashville's most notorious unsolved murder for 33 years.

Barrett is awaiting trial on another murder charge in the 1975 killing and rape of Vanderbilt University student Sarah Vannatta Des Prez on Feb. 2, 1975.

"He's eager for his day in court," said Kerry Haymaker, Barrett's attorney in the Des Prez case. "He pleaded not guilty in the other case, and he'll be pleading not guilty in this case, I'm sure."

Barrett, 61, was living in Memphis when he was arrested late last year, according to court records.

Marcia Trimble's mother, Virginia Trimble, responded to the announcement in a written statement.

"I praise God for the never-yielding investigation work of the Metro Police Department as they, joined with the District Attorney's Office, may finally bring justice for Marcia and solve her murder that has haunted us all for 33 years," she wrote.

Barrett's case is not eligible for the death penalty because the death penalty statute on the books at the time was later declared unconstitutional, said Deputy District Attorney General Tom Thurman.

Thurman said "scientific evidence" linked Barrett to the murder, but declined to elaborate. Police announced in 2002 that DNA from a semen sample taken from the girl's body had ruled out several suspects in her murder.

Thurman said he couldn't comment on whether the girl was sexually assaulted. He said the felony murder charge, which indicates she was killed during the commission of another crime, came because investigators believe "something of value" was taken from the girl.

Nashville Police Nashville Police Chief Ronal Serpas praised his department's cold case unit for cracking the case.

"None of us can begin to imagine the horrible tragedy this has been to the Trimble family and our community," he said.

[missalynn72]

as a parent, and girl scout leader, i don't care whether this man is white or black or any other race. i think he should get the death penalty, as well as anyone else who chooses to harm a child! crime happens unfortunately, and hopefully justice will be served! i will keep the family of marcia in my prayers!

[simplemind2]

"Thurman said "scientific evidence" linked Barrett to the murder"

"incite"?
Incite what - more stupidity?
I sure hope not!
Put it this way, you lay down MLK''s picture right next to Barrett''s "MySpace" picture - do you see any resemblance?
Barrett ought to be ashamed of himself for being such a disgrace to MLK''s cause!

[dixiecharms]

A murder was committed....this child (and her family) need justice and closure (as best can be). The color of skin makes no difference .... stop trying to incite.

[patriot12436]

reedtaz73
How can you deal with a problem if you do not identify it first. I don''t care this man was black. It didn''t say what race the victim was and doesn''t matter.If this man had been white and found guilty of this crime i would want the same sentence for him.

[misspp-2009]

Amazing how the racists will latch onto any issue to rant and rave. What miserable lives you folks must lead.

[dbella2]

Boston 1954, the comments don''t actually contradict each other. The police said *** was found, and the District Attorney said he couldn''t comment on that. He didn''t say they didn''t find ***, he just said he can''t say anything about that, and he can''t. District Attorneys are limited in the comments they can make about ongoing litigation in a way the police are not. Different rules apply to law enforcement and prosecutors.

[reedtaz73]

I''m so sick of you guys with your statistics... Why does it matter that the killer was black? That fact is overshadowed by the fact(s) there was a murder of a child and after 30+ years the crime was solved. Black people this, black people that...sounds like a bunch of whining children.
Get over it already!
Did you stop and ask yourself if she was your daughter, would race matter enough to bring her back to life? Did it matter to those that lost their lives on 9/11 that the attackers were Arabs? No, that bit of info would''ve done very little to save the lives of thousands.
You see, your negative rhetoric holds no true power, only a deep rooted, self imposed, state of ignorance. Do not push your own "state of being" on americans of this new century after the bull *** all races and gender have endured over the last one.

[patriot12436]

whiteprd
i understand what you are saying. I lived in the same situation in Lousiana for 9 years. I was using national statistics i was taught by my law professor in college. To me it is not being racist to point out an existing condition which is causing crime. I lived in San Antonio when they briought in the refugees. Our crime rate went up in all categories the first year. It wasn''t safe to go outside after dark. We didn''t have that problem before Katrina, at least not in the area i lived in.

[patriot12436]

whiteprd
i understand what you are saying. I lived in the same situation in Lousiana for 9 years. I was using national statistics i was taught by my law professor in college. To me it is not being racist to point out an existing condition which is causing crime. I lived in San Antonio when they briought in the refugees. Our crime rate went up in all categories the first year. It wasn''t safe to go outside after dark. We didn''t have that problem before Katrina, at least not in the area i lived in.

[jumkey]

Tp paraphrase Feelfreee4u:

If a white guy shoplifts it''s an aberration and means nothing but if a black man is accused of murder blacks are more likely to be guilty of murder based simply on skin color.

I''m not sure where I''d need to look to find a better or more perfect example of overt racism then your comments on the thread.

If there are more blacks in prison or accused of crimes in this country it''s EXACTLY AND SPECIFICALLY because people like YOU assume and act as if they are guilty based simply on the pigmentation of their skin. Your argument is clearly irrational.

You''re the racist we''re talking about here. You are the only clearly guilty party so far identified.