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Woman accused of murder allowed to attend private visitation for her son

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

(Photo)
Southeast Missourian file Lisa Barlow
[Click to enlarge]
The same day a St. Louis County Circuit judge set a date for a Bollinger County woman to be tried on first-degree murder charges, he also decided she should be allowed to say goodbye to her son.

In the custody of sheriff's deputies from Bollinger and Cape Girardeau counties, Lisa A. Barlow was permitted to attend a private visitation Tuesday morning for her son, Brandon Wayne Bentley, at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, Mo.

Bentley, 24, of Blytheville, Ark., died Saturday in a car accident.

St. Louis County Circuit Judge James Hartenbach approved Monday a request by Barlow's public defender, Amy Metzinger, allowing her to spend some time saying goodbye to her son before the public visitation at 11 a.m. at the funeral chapel, said Bollinger County chief deputy Leo McElrath.

Hartenbach also set a trial date of Jan. 26 for Barlow's case.

Deputies maintained custody of Barlow during the private visitation, meaning she remained in handcuffs, McElrath said.

Barlow is housed in the Cape Girardeau County Jail on a $500,000 cash-only bond. She stands accused of killing her boyfriend, Michael Strong, of Scopus, Mo., on July 27.

Strong was shot and killed in the living room of his Bollinger County residence, and Barlow, who police found hiding in the bedroom of the residence, claimed intruders broke in.

Evidence presented at a preliminary hearing last fall disputed her story, and the case was transferred to St. Louis on a change of venue.

The private visitation is not something that the Cape Girardeau County Jail staff is always able to arrange, but in this case, the judge approved the arrangement beforehand, Capt. James Mulcahy said.

In many cases, those charged with lesser felonies may be granted a furlough, allowing them to leave the jail without posting bond, attend to a death in the family or other type of personal emergency and then return to custody, Mulcahy said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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this lady needs to seek God's attention badly...I am sure she is at her lowest point right now....she needs prayer. Regardless of what she might have done, I am very sorry to hear of her loss.

-- Posted by butterflyby on Wed, Jul 16, 2008, at 8:08 AM

I do agree. I do feel terrible for the family's loss. It is a tragedy when any family loses someone- especially someone so young. The cloud that has hung over his family the past year has had to be a heavy one & I hate that in his last year of life, he had to deal with all that he has. My heart & prayers go out to all of his family & friends.

PS:As ButterflyBy said maybe this is a good time for Lisa to be turning to God, Maybe this gives her some things to think about. She has already lost a year of her life... & missed out on the last year of her son's. Maybe some answers will prevent her from missing out on the next 50 years of the rest of her family's lives. Plus, the grief she must be feeling right now is as of another family that still grieves... Everyday. Maybe this tragedy will give her the need to give another family some answers.

-- Posted by still_mourning on Wed, Jul 16, 2008, at 10:42 AM

Also- I feel bad that in such a tragic time for the family that everything is thrown back to the "Lisa" issue. He should've had a headline in the media for something great he done... Not something awful his mother did. I am sorry that we, the public, feel the need to express our opinion in such a dark time for the family.

-- Posted by still_mourning on Wed, Jul 16, 2008, at 11:01 AM

Regardless of what his mother did or did not do this young man was truly a son that any of us would have been very proud to have had as our own son. He was a very dynamic, loving, a wonderful soul with a very bright future ahead of him. Married to the love of his life in August 2007, they were very excited to find out just recently that they were expecting a child. Brandon will be so missed by many and especially by those of us who loved him dearly. Brandon Rest In Peace We Will See You Again.

-- Posted by tenacious on Wed, Jul 16, 2008, at 12:29 PM

my heart goes out to his famly

-- Posted by mikes,son on Thu, Jul 17, 2008, at 2:07 AM

This was the right call by the circuit judge. She's charged with a serious offense, but not yet convicted. Failing to allow her to attend the visitation would have been an irreparable mistake.

(Honestly, I'm surprised they didn't let her take the shackles off)

-- Posted by OlderEagle1 on Thu, Jul 17, 2008, at 3:00 AM

To Wes,Tim,Samantha,Lisa,the Barlow & Bentley Families,you all have my most heartfelt sympathy,Brandon will be dearly missed by all who new him and loved him.

-- Posted by blesseddaily on Thu, Jul 17, 2008, at 6:56 AM


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