NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 6, 2008
Man Indicted In 1975 Girl Scout Murder
Nashville's Most Famous Unsolved Murder: Marcia Trimble, 9, Disappeared 33 Years Ago While Selling Cookies
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This undated photo supplied by the Nashville Police Department, shows Jerome Sidney Barrett, 61, who was indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree murder and felony murder in the 1975 strangling death of 9-year-old Girl Scout Marcia Trimble while she was delivering cookies. (AP Photo/Nashville Police Dept)
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Play CBS Video Video 1975 Murder Case Revived "CBS NEWS RAW": The Nashville D.A. announced Friday that a suspect had been indicted in a 32-year old murder case. The victim was a 9-year-old Girl Scout, Marcia Trimble, who was delivering cookies
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Interactive Expert Tips: Child Safety Get expert tips on keeping your kids safe. Plus learn the profiles for predators and victims, and check out resources for locating missing children in your state.
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.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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The secrets of tennis legend 
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See all 40 Comments"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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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These two statements contradict each other. A nine year old with *** in her had to have been raped.
It''s not about RACE it''s about MENTAL ILLNESS!
Study this dude''s 1000 yard stare & remember it well.
Teach your kid''s to stay clear of anyone, white or black who own''s a stare like this.
MENTAL CASE!!!
It is becoming increasingly difficult daily to neogtiate all the crazies safely, with all the ZOMBIES strolling all about.
Either the US society is over medicated or undermedicated. I''m still unsure about that??
BECOME AWARE! REMAIN WATCHFUL!
Actually there are approximately 7 whites to every 1.5 blacks in the united states.
However, I think there should never be TV or workout equipment or college and other luxuries funded by taxpayers in the jails and prisons. Just some books, hoops, basketballs, footballs and soccerballs for physical activity and nothing more.
I forgot tyo m,ention, maybe you did everything you knew how toi straighten your son out and he still turned out bad. That doesn''t make you a bad parent. I think he had emotional problems and refused to confor to the laws of society.
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