Pensacola Man Indicted for First Degree Murder of 75 Year Old Carolyn Barnes

October 19, 2016

According to a news release from the office of State Attorney Bill Eddins, a Grand Jury indicted Perry James Ford Jr. today for the First Degree Murder of seventy-five year old Carolyn Barnes.

On September 10, 2016, Ms. Barnes’ body was found inside her Flintwood Circle home in Pensacola, FL by a friend who went to check on her, after she was unable to reach Ms. Barnes by phone for a couple of days. The friend then called the Pensacola Police Department who responded around 10:45 am.

Detective Christopher Forehand said an autopsy performed on Carolyn Barnes revealed the cause of death was a single gun shot wound to the back of her head.

Through investigation, the Pensacola Police Department identified Perry James Ford Jr. as the suspect in the homicide. The gun used to kill Barnes had been stolen in a vehicle burglary that occurred August 9.

Detective Forehand said Barnes had hired Ford on several occasions to do odd jobs for her at her home. The investigation determined she is believed to have opened her door when he showed up at her house around 12:52 a.m. on September 9 and allowed him inside.

PPD arrested Ford on the evening of October 4th and transported him to the Escambia County Jail where he was charged at the time with an open count of murder.