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By Laura Berol
– 23 August 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Murder Cases | Suspects | Victims |
Through his defense attorney Russell Hairston, William Barrett pleaded guilty to second-degree armed murder as part of a pre-arraignment agreement on August 23 before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.
Barrett, 69, was originally charged with first- and second-degree armed murder for his role in the death of 36-year-old Romaine Maddox on Feb. 23 in the 1600 block of New York Avenue in Nebraska.
In exchange for Barrett’s guilty plea, prosecutors waived a charge of first-degree murder. For the second-degree armed murder charge, Barrett faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, with a maximum of five years’ probation.
The prosecution’s facts stated that Barrett and Maddox had been in a romantic relationship for about a year at the time of the incident. They checked into a hotel together to celebrate Maddox’s birthday.
“The defendant told investigators that Ms. Maddox hit him in the chest, head and back,” the prosecutor said. “According to the defendant, he became angry and lost consciousness.”
Despite partial memory loss, Barrett told investigators he remembered wrapping his belt around Maddox’s neck and pulling it. He also remembered hitting her in the face with a toilet lid until it broke into three pieces.
When Barrett woke up in the hotel room the next morning, he found that Maddox’s body was cold.
At the time of the incident, prosecutors said, Maddox was 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 100 pounds. Barrett was 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 120 pounds.
During the hearing, Barrett confirmed that the prosecution’s presentation of the facts was true.
Barrett’s sentencing is scheduled for October 25.
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