Makeshift Memorial Grows For Slain Texas Woman, Son
Police: Killer Said Woman Wanted Him To Leave His Wife
POSTED: 6:21 am CST February 23, 2005
UPDATED: 5:49 pm CST February 23, 2005
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Stuffed animals, notes and balloons are part of a makeshift memorial to a slain pregnant Fort Worth woman and her 7-year-old son. The items are outside a bagel shop co-owned by Lisa Underwood, 34.
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Extra Info: Case Timeline
Police said Stephen Barbee, 37, admitted to having an affair with Underwood, getting her pregnant, and then killing her and her young son to cover it up. Investigators said Barbee admitted to beating and strangling Underwood and her son, Jayden, in their home Friday night.According to police, he said he did it after Underwood threatened to tell Barbee's wife about their affair.Underwood, who was seven months pregnant, and Jayden were reported missing after she did not show up at her baby shower Saturday, prompting an Amber Alert the next day. Police said blood was found in her home, but there was no sign of forced entry. Barbee told investigators that when he went to her home Friday night, Underwood kicked him in the leg and he punched her in the face several times, causing her nose to bleed. Police records show he held her on the floor and suffocated her. Barbee told police that when Jayden entered the living room screaming, Barbee told police he suffocated the boy. Barbee told investigators he put the bodies in the back of Underwood's SUV and drove to Denton County and dug a shallow grave, according to the affidavit. Underwood and Barbee met about two years ago at the bagel store but split up last fall because Barbee had another girlfriend, said Debbie Lindley, a neighbor of Underwood's.Police arrested Barbee Monday night in Tyler and charged him with capital murder in connection with the deaths.On Tuesday, police said they located the bodies of Underwood, who was due to deliver a baby girl in two months, and her son after Barbee led them to a shallow grave not far from the Texas Motor Speedway near Northlake, about 25 miles north of Fort Worth.Barbee was arraigned in Tyler Tuesday morning, and is now at the Tarrant County Jail on a $2 million bond, charged with capital murder.
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Slideshow: Extra Info: Case Timeline Police said Stephen Barbee, 37, admitted to having an affair with Underwood, getting her pregnant, and then killing her and her young son to cover it up. Investigators said Barbee admitted to beating and strangling Underwood and her son, Jayden, in their home Friday night.According to police, he said he did it after Underwood threatened to tell Barbee's wife about their affair.Underwood, who was seven months pregnant, and Jayden were reported missing after she did not show up at her baby shower Saturday, prompting an Amber Alert the next day. Police said blood was found in her home, but there was no sign of forced entry. Barbee told investigators that when he went to her home Friday night, Underwood kicked him in the leg and he punched her in the face several times, causing her nose to bleed. Police records show he held her on the floor and suffocated her. Barbee told police that when Jayden entered the living room screaming, Barbee told police he suffocated the boy. Barbee told investigators he put the bodies in the back of Underwood's SUV and drove to Denton County and dug a shallow grave, according to the affidavit. Underwood and Barbee met about two years ago at the bagel store but split up last fall because Barbee had another girlfriend, said Debbie Lindley, a neighbor of Underwood's.Police arrested Barbee Monday night in Tyler and charged him with capital murder in connection with the deaths.On Tuesday, police said they located the bodies of Underwood, who was due to deliver a baby girl in two months, and her son after Barbee led them to a shallow grave not far from the Texas Motor Speedway near Northlake, about 25 miles north of Fort Worth.Barbee was arraigned in Tyler Tuesday morning, and is now at the Tarrant County Jail on a $2 million bond, charged with capital murder.
Warrant: Business Partner Knew About Murders
Meanwhile, in a new revelation, police said Barbee's business partner knew about the murders, and didn't report them.According to the arrest warrant, Ron Dodd told detectives he gave Barbee a ride to Underwood's home Friday night. Dodd said Barbee later called him from Denton County and said he ran out of gas.When Dodd went to help, he said he opened the hatchback of the blue SUV and observed the bodies of a female and male child in the back. According to the court papers, Dodd became shaken and left the scene, not wanting to get involved.There was no information on whether Dodd will face charges.Underwood's other business partner said that Underwood had been Barbee's girlfriend at one time, but that the relationship had ended."There was really nothing there. I mean, they communicated every once in a while, but there was really no ongoing dating relationship," Holy Pils said.Barbee was married twice and was involved in two sucessful Fort Worth businesses, one a concrete cutting company and the other a tree trimming service. He lived in Fort Worth and went to high school in Azle.Family, Friends Gather For Vigil
Family and friends gathered Tuesday night for a candlelight vigil for Underwood and her son at Boopa's Bagel Deli, which was co-owned by Underwood.All day Tuesday, people visited Underwood's home and business to express grief and leave behind mementos. The bagel shop has been closed since Monday."It's devastating. Lisa never did anything to hurt anybody," one woman visitor said, sobbing."It just doesn't seem fair. They didn't deserve this," another woman said.Friends say Underwood was devoted to Jayden and excited about having a baby girl soon. They said she was planning to raise her daughter without help from the baby's father. That's why many of Underwood's friends are stunned that the father of her unborn child has been charged with suffocating her and her son, apparently after an argument over his refusal to leave his wife. "She was warm and loving, but she was also very independent," said Leah Huff, a friend and longtime customer at Underwood's bagel shop. "She raised Jayden by herself, and Jayden was awesome. Being a single mother was no big deal to her." About 200 people gathered Tuesday night for a candlelight vigil outside the bagel shop, where they placed dozens of balloons, flower bouquets, cards and pictures of the victims.Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
