A chilling crime has rocked Florida as a 35-year-old man is now in custody, charged with the murder of his ex-girlfriend’s aunt, Jessie Kirk, and the subsequent burning of her remains. David Barber faces a slew of charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, arson, and abuse of a dead human body.
The disturbing sequence of events began on March 4 in Titusville, when Kirk was reported missing to the Titusville Police Department after she failed to show up for her routine morning walk, an absence her friends deemed “highly unusual.” Kirk’s disappearance was quickly classified as “highly suspicious.”
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During the initial search near Kirk’s apartment, officers encountered Barber, who had visible burn marks on his arms. He was initially arrested for loitering and prowling, and investigators discovered his prior relationship with Kirk’s niece. Simultaneously, Kirk’s burned vehicle was located in Orange County, prompting a deeper investigation.
The investigation took a grim turn when Kirk’s body was discovered near Haulover Canal. Authorities confirmed her identity through dental records due to the severity of the burns.
According to the arrest affidavit, officers who searched Kirk’s apartment building noticed a strong odor of bleach and cleaning chemicals in her garage, and the floor was wet. Kirk’s family, while searching for her missing vehicle, found Barber’s car nearby, raising suspicions due to his severed relationship with Kirk’s niece and his lack of residence in the area.
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Further investigation revealed that Kirk’s niece had previously filed an injunction against Barber for stalking, and he had a history of attempted burglary at her apartment. The affidavit also detailed a concerning text message sent from Kirk’s phone to her niece on March 4, in which Kirk expressed fear for her safety and plans to go into hiding. However, the niece noted the writing style was uncharacteristic of her aunt.
Witnesses reported seeing a man matching Barber’s description moving between Kirk’s and Barber’s vehicles, and later, near the location where Kirk’s car was found burning. When questioned about his burns, Barber offered evasive answers, stating, “Accidents happen.”
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Surveillance of Kirk’s apartment building captured Barber with severe burns, singed hair, and vegetation on his clothing. The discovery of Kirk’s “badly burned” body confirmed the worst fears of investigators.
Barber is now facing multiple charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, arson of a vehicle, burglary of an occupied structure, abuse of a dead human body, theft, and two counts of tampering with evidence.
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