Marlin Barnes Explained

Currentposition:Linebacker
Birth Date:6 April 1974
Death Place:Coral Gables, Florida
School:Miami Hurricanes
Pastschools:Miami (1995)
Weight Lb:220

Marlin Adarryl Barnes (April 6, 1974 – April 13, 1996)[1] was a linebacker for the University of Miami Hurricanes. He was found brutally beaten to death in his apartment in 1996, along with his longtime friend, Timwanika Lumpkins.[2] Barnes was a six-foot, 220-pound linebacker who played second string for the Hurricanes. Barnes and linebacker Ray Lewis, who later won two Super Bowls with the Baltimore Ravens, were teammates and roommates at the University of Miami.

Murder

On the morning of April 13, 1996, Barnes' body was discovered when his roommate Earl Little came home to pick up the keys to his truck. Little found that someone had slashed two of the tires on his truck, and when he attempted to open the door to the apartment, he noticed that there was something obstructing the door. When Earl looked through an opening in the door, he saw Barnes' body slumped against the door with a pool of blood surrounding him. Barnes was severely injured and had nearly lost his entire face in what appeared to be a brutal beating, and was close to death when Little found him. By the time the police arrived, Barnes was already dead. It was discovered that Barnes had been beaten to death with a blunt object. After a thorough search of the rest of the apartment, police found the beaten and broken, yet alive, body of Barnes’ longtime friend, Timwanika Lumpkins, pinned between the bed and the wall. She later died in the hospital.[3]

Investigation

After seventeen days of investigation, it was concluded that Lumpkins’ ex-boyfriend Labrant Dennis had entered the apartment after slashing the tires on Little's car. After entering the apartment, Dennis proceeded to beat Barnes twenty-two times with the butt of a shotgun. When he was done with Barnes, he turned on Lumpkins, doing the same to her as he did to Barnes.[4] Dennis was sentenced to the death penalty[5] and,, was still on death row.[6]

Aftermath

In December 1996, the University of Miami agreed to a financial settlement with the families of Barnes and Lumpkins due to the murders having occurred in an on-campus apartment. All parties agreed to maintain the confidentiality of the settlement terms. But the Miami Herald reported that each family received more than $1 million.[7] [8]

In popular culture

In 2003, the Discovery Channel documentary series The New Detectives covered the case in the episode named "Crimes of Passion" (S8; E10) with the similar murder case of Ralph Gawor from Fresno, California.

The Investigation Discovery documentary series The Perfect Murder, in a 2018 episode titled "The Last Blitz"' (S5; E10), depicts the Barnes-Lumpkins murders and the shock waves experienced by the University of Miami campus and community.[9] [10]

The Hulu documentary series Death in the Dorms, in a 2024 episode titled "Marlin Barnes" (S2; E3), covered the case and contains numerous interviews with family and friends of the victims.

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.mediafire.com/view/39uhzk887zvgl57 Marlin Adarryl Barnes, Florida Death Index, 1877-1998
  2. Web site: A Friend To All . Sun-Sentinel . 21 April 1996 . 28 January 2015.
  3. News: Arrest Reported in Death of Football Player UPI . 4 February 2019 . United Press International . 1 May 1996 . MIAMI . en.
  4. Web site: Healing comes slowly . Orlando Sentinel . 13 April 2006 . 28 January 2015 . Skolnick, Ethan J..
  5. News: GREGORY . DAMIAN P. . UM MURDER GETS DEATH . 4 February 2019 . Miami Bureau . Sun-Sentinel.com . 27 February 1999 . MIAMI.
  6. http://www.floridacapitalcases.state.fl.us/inmate-details.cfm?id=122 Labrant Dennis
  7. News: UM Will Pay Out To Families Of 2 Students Slain In April . 4 February 2019 . tribunedigital-orlandosentinel . Orlando Sentinel . 8 December 1998 . CORAL GABLES . en.
  8. News: U. of Miami to Pay Families of Murdered Athlete and Friend . 4 February 2019 . The Chronicle of Higher Education . 20 December 1996.
  9. Web site: The Perfect Murder - The Last Blitz (TV Episode 2018) IMDb . IMDb.com Inc. . 28 September 2018 . 27 September 2018.
  10. Web site: The Last Blitz The Perfect Murder . www.investigationdiscovery.com . Discovery Communications, LLC. . 28 September 2018 . en-us . 27 September 2018.