Trial Experience

Police Lt. Jim Barton found his wife, Vickie, murdered execution-style on their farm in Warren County, Ohio, in 1995. With limited physical evidence and no suspects, the investigation lay dormant for nine years until a tip opened up the case. Jim Barton soon found himself under arrest with charges related to the slaying. Prosecutors had a troubling theory: did Jim Barton’s ambition to become police chief lead to his wife’s murder? . . . In February of this year, Prosecutors Leslie Myer and Josh Engel took the case to trial. “Our theory was that he wanted to scare her so that she would move with him into the city of Springboro so that he can be chief,” said Engel.