A devoutly religious grandma is the last person you would expect to confess to multiple murders and be sentenced to death, however in this case all that is true.
Little is known about Velma’s childhood, however we do know she was raised in a strict Pentecostal Christian household. This led to Velma being highly religious throughout her life, she later refers to God being the reason she was able to cope with being in prison.
Velma dropped out of school early to marry her then boyfriend Thomas Burke. For more than 15 years they lived as a happy family and had two children. This would all change after Thomas was involved in an automobile accident which left Thomas with severe pain. To cope with this pain Thomas began drinking heavily. It is also alleged at this time Velma became addicted to painkillers. She later blamed many of her crimes on these tranquilizers.
After a bad fight (in 1969) with her husband Velma left the house with the children and the house caught fire killing Thomas. Although it has never been proven it is suspected Velma was behind this fire. Shortly after this the house then caught fire and again and was burnt to the ground.
Velma moved on quickly after this and began dating Jennings Barfield. They were married in August of 1970 however this marriage didn’t last long with Jennings dying of heart failure in March of 1971. After Jenning’s death Velma moved home to live with her parents, where her father died of lung cancer shortly after. In 1974 Velma’s mother was admitted to hospital with severe stomach pains and died two hours later. Again there is no solid evidence to prove this but the circumstances are suspicious. She later confessed to this murder stating she only meant for her to get sick to give her time to repay funds taken to pay for tranquilizers and painkillers.
Velma then got a job as a home care nurse for 94 year old Montgomery Edwards and his wife Dollie who was 84. In January 1977, Montgomery died and this was not linked to Velma nor did she confess to this however it is easy to suspect Velma of this. In February 1977 Dollie also became sick and passed away having developed a strange stomach virus the doctors could not explain. Velma would later confess to this murder. Following this Velma then got another job caring for John Henry and Record Lee. John Henry Lee died in June 1977, with similar symptoms to Velma’s previous victims.
During 1977 Velma then moved in with her boyfriend Stuart Taylor. He would be her final victim as he was admitted to hospital with severe stomach pains. He then died within a few days of arrival. Velma had been forging checks to steal money from Stuart to pay for her drug addiction and it was believed he began to suspect her. An autopsy was ordered and rat poison containing arsenic was found in his system. The police then went back through previous deaths surrounding Velma and their suspicions peaked.
Velma admitted to her son that she had only meant to make them sick in order to give her time to pay back the money she had stolen to support her addiction.
Velma was then charged and tried for the murder of Stuart Taylor. She was found guilty and sentenced to death given the resumption of capital punishment in 1976.
In custody Velma confessed to poisoning Dollie Edwards, John Henry Lee, and her own mother, with arsenic. But she denied killing Thomas Burke and Jennings, however there was evidence suggesting she had killed Jennings. She also apologised for the hurt that she has caused and wishes she could take all 'the hurt upon herself'.
Velma had a final Meal of Cheez doodles and a can of Coca-cola before being executed on November 2nd 1984.
This was a shocking case of how someone so unassuming could commit such acts. This was particularly prevalent in the fact that protestors turned up outside the jail to protest her killing and lit candles to mark her passing.
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