Naman Shrestha
In the episode titled ‘Weight Control’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘American Monster,’ the primary focus is on the tragic killing of 37-year-old Ashley Barlow in October 2021 in Beaumont, Texas. When the news of her untimely demise broke out, shockwaves were sent across the community. Meanwhile, the detectives apprehended the killer swiftly, after which they uncovered a deadly stalking plot. Featuring exclusive interviews with Ashley’s loved ones and the officials involved in the case, the documentary delves into all the intricate details of the case.
Ashley Barlow Was Found Dead Outside a Business in Beaumont
On February 15, 1984, Ashley Elizabeth Barlow entered the world of Phil Buck and Shelley Cramer. Apart from having a seemingly loving and supportive set of parents, she also grew up alongside her siblings, Amanda Buck, Samantha Ballenger, Zachery Buck, and Kevin Ballenger. In April 2012, Ashley landed a job in a clerical position, after which she earned her degree. A few years later, in February 2016, she was promoted to the rank of probation officer, becoming one of the roughly 100 employees in the Jefferson County Department.
As for her personal life, Ashley was married to Terry Barlow. She was a doting mother to Bradley Hutson, Trinity Barlow and Tyson Barlow. The 37-year-old woman was working diligently as a probation officer in Jefferson County when her life suddenly came to a halt in the fall of 2021. On the evening of October 23, 2021, the Beaumont Police Department was called to the 600 block of Langham Street, where a reported shooting took place. When the authorities arrived at the scene, they discovered the remains of Ashley Barlow right outside of a business. The autopsy reports determined that she was shot several times in the chest area, which was the cause of her death. Immediately, a homicide investigation was launched to get to the bottom of the case and bring the perpetrator to justice.
The Killer Also Attacked the Man Ashley Barlow Was Allegedly Having an Affair With
As part of the investigation, the authorities dug deeper into the personal life of Ashley Barlow. They learned that she was still married to Terry Barlow, but the couple had recently separated. According to her family members, her husband had been allegedly violent towards her for several years during the course of their marriage. When Terry learned that Ashley was allegedly having an affair with a man named Roebuck, he got angry and went to confront his estranged wife in front of a business located at 655 Langham Street in Beaumont. The two got into a verbal altercation, during which Terry pulled out a handgun but didn’t pull the trigger and drove away from the scene.
However, after a short while, Terry returned to the same spot, where he chased Ashley and Roebuck before firing multiple rounds at them. Although the man was able to take cover and survive the attack, Ashley was shot to death by her estranged husband. The entire ordeal had been captured in the security cameras of the two businesses located right across the street. It revealed how Ashley had pleaded in front of the shooter for her life and that of her children, but he ended up shooting her anyway. Terry reportedly fled the scene in his truck initially but returned to the crime scene and surrendered himself to the police.
After the police took Terry into custody, they interrogated him about the attack. He claimed that when he learned of her alleged affair, he placed a GPS tracker on her vehicle to know about her whereabouts at all times. He told them that he also planned to take his own life after killing Ashley, but for some reason, he did not. During the commission of the crime, he possessed his wife’s .380 handgun and his Smith and Wesson .40-caliber gun. Terry alleged that he disposed of his wife’s gun on Laurel Street, but couldn’t remember where his gun was. Ultimately, he was charged with the murder of Ashley Barlow and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against Roebuck.
Terry Barlow is Currently Incarcerated at a Texas Prison Facility
Initially, in April 2022, Terry Barlow rejected a plea deal and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. However, several months later, on January 26, 2023, he eventually pleaded guilty to killing his estranged wife, Ashley Barlow. A few months later, on April 3, during his sentencing hearing, several witnesses, including Ashley’s sister, took the stand. In response to Terry’s claims of the shooting being an accident, the sister opined that pulling the trigger 17 times could not have been an accident. In the end, he was sentenced to the maximum punishment for both his charges — 50 years in prison for the murder charge and 20 years for the aggravated assault charge. The sentences were ordered to be run concurrently. As of today, Terry is serving his sentence at the Gib Lewis Unit in Woodville, Texas, with his parole eligibility date scheduled for October 2046.
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