Judge Sentences Potee Street Homicide Defendant to Life in Prison

By Stephanie Landaverde [former] - July 1, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

On June 30, a 33-year-old defendant charged with first-degree murder received a maximum sentence of life in addition to 50 years in prison despite claiming she was forced by her codefendant to participate in the kidnapping, murder and burning of Tiffany Jones. 

The prosecutor expressed how the defendant, Bobie Barncord, who is represented by Janine Meckler, should serve a life sentence plus 50 years for assisting in kidnapping Jones and setting her on fire before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John A. Howard. 

The prosecutor stated Barncord had every opportunity to drive to the police station during the kidnapping but never did, which showed that Barncord was a willing participant in the incident as the driver of the vehicle. 

The prosecutor added that Barncord did nothing to help the situation, even while left alone with Jones. Instead, she called her codefendant, Willard Turner Williams, to ask when he would get back because she was uncomfortable with the way Jones was yelling at her. 

Within an NCR report and a litigation report from the Department of Corrections, Barncord changed the facts to fit the circumstances, stated the prosecuted, which showed she was not being truthful about her mental health, further justifying a maximum sentence. 

Judge Howard sentenced Barncord to life in prison for first-degree murder, a consecutive 30 years for conspiracy to commit kidnapping and a consecutive 20 years for first-degree arson. 

Judge Howard stated he is not going to recommend Barncord to the Patuxent Eligible Offender Program, but there is a possibility of consideration if Barncord shows progress in the institution within five years.

As stated by the Maryland Judiciary website, Barncord was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to first-degree murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, first-degree arson, conspiracy to commit first-degree arson, false imprisonment and conspiracy to commit false imprisonment. 

According to court documents, on Aug. 21, 2018, at 2:37 p.m., a Southern District officer with the Baltimore Police Department was dispatched to the 3600 block of Potee Street for the report of Jones’ abduction. 

Williams is accused of grabbing Jones and placing a knife against her neck before forcing her into a Chevy pickup truck driven by Barncord. 

On Aug. 22, 2018,  Jones’ body was discovered by Baltimore City Fire Department personnel to be the source of a fire inside a basement on the 3400 block of 7th Street.

Barncord was found and interviewed regarding Jones’ abduction, which she confessed to.