Barker accepts plea in Stansbury murder

New developments have taken place regarding the three individuals charged with the murder of 19-year-old Davidlee Stansbury of Salem.

On July 25, Travis Barker, one of the accomplices in the murder accepted a negotiated plea in Batesville.

Barker was charged with murder in the first degree and will serve up to 30 years on the charge. Per the plea deal, he will not be eligible for parole until 2042.

On May 21, 2021 Salem Police Chief Shad Overman arrested 19-year-old Travis Eugene Barker of Jefferson City, MO, for his involvement in Stansbury’s murder.

On May 24, the prosecuting attorney filed formal charges of murder in the first degree against Barker.

Barker is set to appear before Judge Tim Weaver in Melbourne May 25, 2021.

According to an affidavit filed at the Fulton County Courthouse, on April 26, 2021 Fulton County Investigator Dale Weaver and Overman traveled to Jefferson City, MO to speak with Barker at his family residence.

Investigators took a recorded statement from Barker who said at about 8 p.m., one day prior to the murder, Jacoby Goehler, 20, of Salem had contacted Barker to let him know he was on his way to come visit and asked for directions to Barker’s home.

Barker said he met with Goehler and the two ran to a nearby store to grab soda and returned to the home where they visited and played games until everyone had gone to bed.

Around midnight, just prior to going to bed, Barker said he took Goehler to show him some handmade knives and a handgun.

Barker said he was then asked how the firearm worked and if it worked well. The following morning, he noticed the gun was gone. He then asked Goehler about it and if he had seen the gun but received no answer.

Barker told investigators he didn’t want to press the issue as Goehler was his friend and it was possible he could have knocked it off the nightstand.

Shortly after, Barker said Goehler showed him a text he had received from his mother about wanting to “kill Davidlee for raping her daughter”.

Barker said Goehler left about 1 p.m. that day to head home. Barker stated he didn’t believe Stansbury had raped Goehler’s sister and offered an explanation.

When asked about the firearm, Barker stated he had purchased it from his father-in-law approximately a year prior and had shot it a few times prior, but it had been a month since he had shot it. He then took officers to an area where he said he had shot a raccoon and the bullet could still be in the area.

On May 6, a search warrant was obtained with regards to a bank receipt found In Goehler’s vehicle dated April 23. The search warrant was executed, and video footage was requested from a store in Rolla, MO.

On May 12, Investigator Weaver called Willam Flack who serves as the security officer for the convenience store. Flack was able to recover the video footage and sent a photograph of the transaction that pictured Goehler and Barker together both wearing black hoodies.

On May 14, Chief Deputy Joe Boshears and Overman spoke to an inmate at the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office about Goehler who had been allegedly bragging about the homicide.

The inmate was able to provide details about Stansbury’s murder and the location of where he had been shot. The inmate also stated Barker was there and involved in the homicide and the murder had taken place on Barker’s old homeplace land in Fulton county.

“Jacoby and Travis used the guise of looking for a bag of ‘dope’ to get Davidlee on the land. He was told that on their way back to Travis’ residence in Missouri they disassembled Travis’ pistol they used to kill Davidlee and threw parts out,” the affidavit stated.

The details provided were available only to law enforcement or to an individual who was present at the scene of the crime the night of Stansbury’s murder.

After reviewing video footage from the convenience store it was confirmed Goehler and Barker were together and had left the store at about 12:50 a.m. on April 23, 2021 although Barker had told authorities he and Goehler were home through the night of April 22, 2021 and into the early morning hours of April 23.

On May 21, authorities received information Barker was in the City of Salem. He was asked to come to the sheriff’s office to be re-interviewed.

After being read his rights, Barker began to re-tell the story he had previously given to authorities, however; after being shown the photographs of the video surveillance footage, Barker said he had taken Goehler back to Jefferson City before Goehler had left to commit the murder.

Weaver told Barker the timeline would be possible and to tell the truth. Barker became emotional and said Goehler had told him he knew for a fact Stansbury had raped his sister, and that for more than a month Goehler had been telling Barker he was going to kill Stansbury.

Barker said, “He knew that pedophiles had to be put down so he knew what they had to do,” the affidavit said.

He then provided details as to the plans Goehler had shared with him at which point on the night of the murder, he offered Goehler his firearm because he believed it would “be less painful and quick” than a plan suggested by Goehler.

Barker continued to provide details of the events which unfolded that night and said on the way to Salem, Goehler had texted Stansbury by way of Snapchat asking for his help on a drug deal.

Barker said before Goehler picked up Stansbury he dropped Barker off at the property on which Stansbury was murdered.

Once Goehler and Stansbury arrived at the property and exited the vehicle, Goehler grabbed the gun and racked the slide putting a bullet into the chamber.

Barker said Stansbury had commented he was glad Goehler had brought a firearm along for protection but was surprised to see Barker emerge from the barn.

Barker and Goehler then used phones as flashlights as the three made their way deeper into the woods.

When they got to the area, Goehler asked Stansbury if he had raped his sister and although Stansbury said ‘no,’ Goehler continued to ask, eventually pulling the firearm from his waistband.

After being shot once, Stansbury maintained he had not raped Goehler’s sister. At this time, Goehler fired a second shot striking Stansbury in the head. He then stood over him and fired a third shot.

The two then attempted to find the shell casings but were unsuccessful. Goehler then removed Stansbury’s wallet and phone and the two began walking back to the vehicle entered and made their way back to Jefferson City.

While traveling, the two disassembled the firearm and began tossing pieces out the window and into the Missouri River as they traveled.

Once back at the home, the two burned the gloves they had worn and Goehler told his mother what had happened.

Goehler also face the charge of murder in the first degree as well as a slew of other charges following an escape attempt from the Fulton County Jail, a new trial date for Goehler will be set in the near future.

Bowman-Harnden remains free on bond and is currently scheduled to appear in court for pre-trial on the charge of conspiracy to commit murder in the first-degree Sept. 1.