GUILTY CT - Barry James, 59, stabbed to death, Fairfield, 28 Aug 2006

[Linda7NJ]

I think child molestation is a very very difficult crime to get a conviction when the victim is so young. Minus tearing, DNA or a venereal disease no way would this guy get convicted.

I also think a parent KNOWS when a child is telling the truth about such things. No two year old makes it up. If she said the neighbor touched her inappropriately "down there" then he did.

Personally, I'm glad he's not around to do it again. The justice system would have failed to convict him. The father is a lawyer, I'm sure he knew that.

 

[CyberLaw]

The fact that they charged him with first degree speaks volumes. If the claims are proven true, then most likely Dad can "plea" down to manslaughter because of diminished capacity.

Plus I would like to know the size of a child's bedroom window, how a 300lbs man can fit his body thorough a window, leave no "indications" of him ever being in the room(like dirt, mud, grass from shoes, foot prints outside the window) how the dogs did not even detect another person in the house(we do not have a guard dog, but boy even when someone comes to the door, like the unfortunate courier) the dog will alert, growl and bark and he is a gentle family dog. Even when friends come to the door.......

There are two dogs in this house, one would alert the other.......they can hear, very, very well and "know" this scent is not a known scent of another family member. On more then one occassion........on every occassion that this man came into her bedroom in the "starry night". James knowing that they have two dogs......

Plus I find it very, very suspect, that after a family visit(with her Mom and her Mom's sister) that now this story emerges.

What the child told the Mom and Aunt, is just hearsay......we are being told what the child said......by the Mom and Aunt.

We have no idea what this child was exposed to......what intended or unintended "influence" she heard or knew. Family dynamics......we are taking the word of a two year old child......

What parents does not make sure their child's, especially a young child, especially when you have a neighbour like Barry, when you are "protective" of you child, does not "make 100% sure" that their window are locked from the inside........everynight. Door too......

Especially if the "bedroom" window is on the ground floor, which I find hard to believe as most houses seemed to be two stores in Fairfield.

They are doing their best to prove the child's story...but I don't think they are going to be able to do so.

The facts just don't add up........

Kind of reminds me of Darlie Routier, the dog was "silent" while a "stranger" came into the house and "killed" her two kids, but was yappy as heck when the cops came.

Dad jumped on a bed (for leverage) and out the window when he left the home of Barry. This was a "ground floor" bedroom". This is a young, slim man.......Barry was older, infirm, 300 lbs.

The child may have "been spoken" to about molestation in general by the Mom and Dad, other family and considering the "anger" at the neighbour by the Mom and Dad, family projected her "fear" onto the neighbour.

The probable cause affidavit(in support of a search wararnt) indicated "a search for "cutting instruments and tools capable of gaining access to a locked premises."

So now I am like hummmmm....cutting instruments as in cutting a screen, lockpicking tools, as in picking a door lock, or a locked bedroom window from the outside.

Picking a lock is not as easy as they "make it appear in a movie". if the screen was cut it would be very obvious, deadbolts are extremely hard if not impossible to "pick" and windows are locked from the inside.

 

[Reader]

SNIP

If the "rain on her face" contained DNA one would think some of it might still be on her bedsheets, mattress, pjs. Hope the cops are checking that out.
....

Why didn't the mother/parents notice the above dampness/odor on the child's bedclothes, her nightwear, body or face, when getting her out of bed, bathing her, or changing her clothes? If this supposedly happened more than once, it seems something would have been noticed in her physical condition or behavior by the parents, even if she did not talk about it.

Also, if the parents had been upset with the victim's behavior before and were discussing it, that would seem an opportunity for the child to hear that they were mad at the man and hear his name. It would seem natural then for her to say something like, "I don't like Barry either because...........".

Personally, I agree with those posters who are against vigilante justice. A man is dead maybe unjustly, his elderly parents are devastated, the father will go to trial, the child/wife will most likely be deprived of his care and support for years(emotionally and financially), his career is ruined, but noone knows why all this really happened because he jumped the gun, lost his temper and did not report the molestation to authorities to investigate.

As an adult and educated man/lawyer, he should have been able to control himself, and consider the consequences of his actions on his family/child before KILLING a man. I can understand if he went over and had an argument or fight with the guy, but not to play God and take the life of someone without proof, especially being a lawyer.

And I disagree that Barry would not have been prosecuted if the molestation did happen and there was proof. This site is full of molestation prosecutions and convictions, sometimes years afterwards, even just on the word of the victims.

 

[southcitymom]

As an adult and educated man/lawyer, he should have been able to control himself, and consider the consequences of his actions on his family/child before KILLING a man. I can understand if he went over and had an argument or fight with the guy, but not to play God and take the life of someone without proof, especially being a lawyer.

In the weeks and months to come, I feel like the facts of this story are going to focus more on the dysfunctional family dynamic that led to this unjust slaughter. There is WAY more there than any of us even know about.

 

[BillyGoatGruff]

I think it does sound like the way a kid would describe abuse.

But the thing is, two-year-olds CAN talk. Very loudly. And one of their favorite words is "No." They can also cry very loudly. And reasoning, and threats, and bribery, won't prevent that. Just ask millions of parents hissing at their kids in the grocery store. So why didn't her parents hear her?

Since thousands of very small children get molested every year, its pointless to use her not screaming or yelling (at least so her parents could hear it) as evidence that molestation didn't occur. For all we know he had his hand over her mouth or threatened to kill her parents or pet if she told.

What I'm waiting for is the victim's past arrest record to be unsealed. I'm willing to bet he had some priors that were probably glossed over/ignored back during the "good old days" when child sex abuse was something both parents & LE tried to sweep under the rug for "the benefit" of the child victims.

 

[BillyGoatGruff]

You are right that it gets weirder and weirder.

I'm not willing to accept that the 2-year-old is recalling being molested until there is more proof. I have just heard too much 2-year-old babble...they say all sorts of things that can be interpreted all sorts of ways. I am sure the 2-year-old heard her parents discussing this guy in his underwear in a negative fashion around their home...it makes sense that she could come up with some pretty weird statements about him.

If the "rain on her face" contained DNA one would think some of it might still be on her bedsheets, mattress, pjs. Hope the cops are checking that out.

We may never know the full truth in this case...we've got a 2-year-old and a much-maligned murder victim.

Hoping for some forensics to unravel the tale....

That's assuming her mother is slow on changing sheets, though.

 

[BillyGoatGruff]

Why didn't the mother/parents notice the above dampness/odor on the child's bedclothes, her nightwear, body or face, when getting her out of bed, bathing her, or changing her clothes? If this supposedly happened more than once, it seems something would have been noticed in her physical condition or behavior by the parents, even if she did not talk about it.

Dried semen looks like dried snot, especially if you're not expecting to see it.
And I think this guy threatened the little girl so she would keep her mouth shut.
And at two she's still in the bed-wetting stage, so her sheets would no doubt be washed/changed out on a regualr basis. No doubt they are dusting every inch of that child's room, looking for his fingerprints and palm prints. The depravity involving this child is disturbing, but that's how peds think and operate.
Like I said before, this man was in his late 50s, early 60s. Behavior like this doesn't appear over night. There's a paper trail re his previous behaviors somewhere.

 

[southcitymom]

Since thousands of very small children get molested every year, its pointless to use her not screaming or yelling (at least so her parents could hear it) as evidence that molestation didn't occur. For all we know he had his hand over her mouth or threatened to kill her parents or pet if she told.

What I'm waiting for is the victim's past arrest record to be unsealed. I'm willing to bet he had some priors that were probably glossed over/ignored back during the "good old days" when child sex abuse was something both parents & LE tried to sweep under the rug for "the benefit" of the child victims.

Hey BGG,

Does the victim have a past arrest record? I don't recall reading that. I would certainly be interested in seeing anything along those lines as well.

 

[southcitymom]

Dried semen looks like dried snot, especially if you're not expecting to see it.
And I think this guy threatened the little girl so she would keep her mouth shut.
And at two she's still in the bed-wetting stage, so her sheets would no doubt be washed/changed out on a regualr basis. No doubt they are dusting every inch of that child's room, looking for his fingerprints and palm prints. The depravity involving this child is disturbing, but that's how peds think and operate.
Like I said before, this man was in his late 50s, early 60s. Behavior like this doesn't appear over night. There's a paper trail re his previous behaviors somewhere.

I agree with you 100% here. IF he molested this little girl (and I will be VERY surprised if that turns out to be the case), she will not have been his first victim.

 

[christine2448]

I agree with you 100% here. IF he molested this little girl (and I will be VERY surprised if that turns out to be the case), she will not have been his first victim.

I found on Netdetective a Barry James, age 60, with record, said served 6 months. No other info given. Initial article lists Barry at 58. He is not listed on Conn. sex offender registry. ETA, not on National Reg. either.

 

[southcitymom]

I found on Netdetective a Barry James, age 60, with record, said served 6 months. No other info given. Initial article lists Barry at 58. He is not listed on Conn. sex offender registry.

Thanks.

 

[LNL]

I thought all he had was a dui back in 2001. no other record.

Joe, I agree with your comments from earlier this morning.

 

[southcitymom]

I thought all he had was a dui back in 2001. no other record.

Joe, I agree with your comments from earlier this morning.

I recall reading about the DUI, but I haven't read about any other sort of record. It is pretty obvious this man had alcohol abuse issue. That doesn't make him a pedophile.

 

[LNL]

I recall reading about the DUI, but I haven't read about any other sort of record. It is pretty obvious this man had alcohol abuse issue. That doesn't make him a pedophile.

Agreed.

 

[T-Rex]

I always like BGG's posts--I think he has common sense plus street smarts. And I'm probably being swayed by the Planned Parenthood story, vs. Barry reminding me of someone I know and trust. But the one thing I'm wary of , which someone brought up on another board, is the kid saying, "Mom, I don't want to go home, HE'S been touching me." And mom says, "WHO'S BEEN TOUCHING YOU??!!!! WAS IT BARRY???!!!!" At which point, the kid, frightened, says yes. Even if it was actually...someone else with access, and bad impulse control.

 

[LNL]

I always like BGG's posts--I think he has common sense plus street smarts. And I'm probably being swayed by the Planned Parenthood story, vs. Barry reminding me of someone I know and trust. But the one thing I'm wary of , which someone brought up on another board, is the kid saying, "Mom, I don't want to go home, HE'S been touching me." And mom says, "WHO'S BEEN TOUCHING YOU??!!!! WAS IT BARRY???!!!!" At which point, the kid, frightened, says yes. Even if it was actually...someone else with access, and bad impulse control.

EXACTLY!

 

[angelmom]

Dried semen looks like dried snot, especially if you're not expecting to see it.
And I think this guy threatened the little girl so she would keep her mouth shut.
And at two she's still in the bed-wetting stage, so her sheets would no doubt be washed/changed out on a regualr basis. No doubt they are dusting every inch of that child's room, looking for his fingerprints and palm prints. The depravity involving this child is disturbing, but that's how peds think and operate.
Like I said before, this man was in his late 50s, early 60s. Behavior like this doesn't appear over night. There's a paper trail re his previous behaviors somewhere.

This whole thing is so bizarre. The child's words (if they are her words) do sound like the way a child might describe such an attack. BUT...how could the parents and the dog not hear? Seriously, I wake up when my 10 yo gets up for a drink of water at night, and he is nowhere near 300 lbs! His room is at the opposite end of the house and I hear his footsteps. I can promise you I would notice a 300 lb person walking around my house (and God knows what else) in the middle of the night, especially if the only people home were me, my husband, and a toddler.

Not to mention the dogs! If they aren't at least a little disturbed by a total stranger in the baby's room, they sound like cats.

Threatening a two year old wouldn't do much good. I've tried it and they still don't listen! :blushing: But seriously, my kids were probably 5 or 6 before they could keep a secret (good or bad), and I still don't totally trust them if it's important.

And I agree with Reader that I would notice the mess in the bed. There is a distinct odor to both urine and semen. I would not confuse the two. Plus, she is probably still in diapers at night, and the bed should not be wet. I mean, do they think the guy bathed the child without anyone noticing? Did he use a towel or washcloth in her room that no one noticed? Or did he drag it through the window with him?

I want to see a picture of this guy and a picture of the window.

 

[BillyGoatGruff]

Threatening a two year old wouldn't do much good. I've tried it and they still don't listen! :blushing: But seriously, my kids were probably 5 or 6 before they could keep a secret (good or bad), and I still don't totally trust them if it's important.

C'mon, we're talking about what a pervert would do to insure silence, not a parent.
Try threatening them by putting a hand over their nose and mouth, in a serious smothering action, while threatening their pets while you're also sexually abusing them. You might have a different response.

And she eventually DID tell.

 

[BillyGoatGruff]

I found on Netdetective a Barry James, age 60, with record, said served 6 months. No other info given. Initial article lists Barry at 58. He is not listed on Conn. sex offender registry. ETA, not on National Reg. either.

I don't consider the current sex ofender registries 100% reliable. Crimes & misdemeanors predating the last 5-10 years often are not on there. Also, arrests where the charges were later dropped or the DA failed to go forward would not be on there. The same goes for juvenile arrests.

There's a guy in my home town that everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, knows is a pedophile. He's been one since he was 16. His parents managed to pay off victims' families and gladhand the local LE to keep him out of jail. They bought him a Lazy Boy dealership, which is how he made money. We (my siblings, cousins & I) were under strict orders never, under ANY circumstances, to enter his store. However, he managed to talk me in by promising to buy Girl Scout Cookies.

Once I was in the store he showed me what I now realize were x-rated novelties. I got scared and left. My mother saw his signature on the GIrl Scout Cookie order form and went to my father. My father went to his house and told him he'd kill him if he tried crap like that again. After that he steered clear of me.

This man was arrested several times in the 60s and a couple more in the 70s, but nothing ever came of it--the charges were dropped and later expunged. After the late 70s I moved away. He's still there. He's not on any sex offender registry. BTW, this guy was a raging alcoholic as well.

 

[kazzbar]

I don't consider the current sex ofender registries 100% reliable. Crimes & misdemeanors predating the last 5-10 years often are not on there. Also, arrests where the charges were later dropped or the DA failed to go forward would not be on there. The same goes for juvenile arrests.

There's a guy in my home town that everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, knows is a pedophile. He's been one since he was 16. His parents managed to pay off victims' families and gladhand the local LE to keep him out of jail. They bought him a Lazy Boy dealership, which is how he made money. We (my siblings, cousins & I) were under strict orders never, under ANY circumstances, to enter his store. However, he managed to talk me in by promising to buy Girl Scout Cookies.

Once I was in the store he showed me what I now realize were x-rated novelties. I got scared and left. My mother saw his signature on the GIrl Scout Cookie order form and went to my father. My father went to his house and told him he'd kill him if he tried crap like that again. After that he steered clear of me.

This man was arrested several times in the 60s and a couple more in the 70s, but nothing ever came of it--the charges were dropped and later expunged. After the late 70s I moved away. He's still there. He's not on any sex offender registry. BTW, this guy was a raging alcoholic as well.

Oh, Boy.You were very lucky.all over the world there are sex offenders who manage to get away with their 'evil' doings.Here if a sex offender gets out of jail we are not told where they have been housed. Unless they are particularly notorious and the press decide to 'find' them. Some have been put near schools, parks etc. Your Dad sounds like a straight shooter and his actions probably kept you safe. He offered a verbal warning and fair enough I say.