Jury Finds Woman Guilty of Kidnapping Turned Murder in 2018

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Homicide defendant Bobie Barncord was found guilty on April 26 for the 2018 kidnap and murder of 29-year-old Tiffany Jones.

In addition to first-degree murder, Barncord was also found guilty of kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnapping, false imprisonment, and conspiracy to false imprisonment. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 30.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John Howard presided over the trial

The 33-year-old Glen Burnie resident’s trial concluded with closing arguments on April 25 when the prosecution reviewed the events that led up to Jones’ death on Aug. 22, 2018. Jones was at the Family Dollar on the 3600 block of Potee Street where a man, later identified as Willard Turner-Williams or “Philly,” forced her at knifepoint to get into a black Chevy pickup truck. Jones’ boyfriend, who was with her at the time of the kidnapping, told Baltimore Police that Barncord was the driver.

Jones was believed to have stolen money, an iPhone, and narcotics from the defendant. She was later found stripped of her clothing with a plastic bag and curtain around her head and hands and feet bound inside a burning home on the 3400 block of 7th Street.

“[Barncord] assisted Philly,” the prosecutor said in her closing argument. “If Philly tried to get in [the vehicle], lock the door and keep driving. There were multiple ways she could have helped Tiffany.”

Jones was the evidence of Barncord’s guilt, the prosecutor continued.

“You have to ask yourself about intent when lighting a human being on fire,” she said. “[Barncord] paused and hesitated. This goes to pre-meditation.”

Defense attorney Janine Meckler described her client not “as a mastermind” but as “a pawn.” Baltimore Police detectives’ poor investigation is to be questioned, she added, including their decision not to follow up on another possible male suspect mentioned by Jones’ boyfriend.

“The investigation was led by an officer with five days of experience,” Meckler said.