A preliminary hearing was held Thursday for a Cottonwood man accused of murdering his sister. On July 3rd sheriff’s deputies and fire personnel were called to a home on Shane Lane in Cottonwood. 71-year-old Georgia Barker had been shot multiple times inside the home, allegedly by 68-year-old George Barker. He’s also accused of setting fire to the house. Firefighters had been told by dispatchers that an armed and dangerous person may be present, so they couldn’t approach the burning home for about 30 minutes until sheriff’s deputies said it was safe. A short time later Barker was detained elsewhere in Cottonwood after an alleged hit-and-run while intoxicated. Evidence was gathered at the home and George Barker was interviewed by detectives and then booked into jail for murder, causing a fire and other charges. On Thursday a detective said Barker was heard telling another jail inmate that he was there for killing his sister, and that he would do it again. Barker’s other sister testified that there had been recent tensions between George and Georgia.
-Steve Gibson