Mark O. Barton
Encyclopedia
Mark Orrin Barton was a spree killer
from Stockbridge, Georgia
, who, on July 29, 1999, shot and killed 9 people and injured 13 more. The shootings occurred at two Atlanta
day trading
firms, Momentum Securities and the All-Tech Investment Group. It is believed that Barton, a daytrader, was motivated by $105,000 USD
in losses over the previous two months. Four hours after the Atlanta shootings, Barton committed suicide at a gas station in Acworth
, Georgia. He had been spotted by police and was ordered to stop, but shot and killed himself before the police could reach him.
Following the shootings, police searching Barton's home found that his second wife, Leigh Ann Vandiver Barton, and two children, Matthew David Barton (12) and Mychelle Elizabeth Barton (10), had been murdered by hammer blows before the shooting spree; the children had then been placed in bed, as if sleeping. According to a note Barton left at the scene, his wife was killed July 27, and the children murdered July 28.
Prior to the massacre, Barton had been a suspect in the 1993 beating deaths of his first wife, Debra Spivey, and her mother, Eloise Spivey, in Cherokee County
, Alabama
. Although he was never charged in either of the crimes - and though the note he left with the bodies of his children and his second wife denied any involvement in the 1993 murders - he is still considered a suspect in those murders by authorities.
, where he graduated with a chemistry degree in 1979.
Spree killer
A spree killer is someone who embarks on a murderous assault on two or more victims in a short time in multiple locations. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics defines a spree killing as "killings at two or more locations with almost no time break between murders."-Definition:According to the...
from Stockbridge, Georgia
Stockbridge, Georgia
Stockbridge is a city in Henry County, Georgia, United States with a population of 25,636 as of the 2010 census. It is the hometown of the multi-platinum selling alternative rock/post-grunge band Collective Soul and home to one of the youngest starting pitchers ever to play for the Atlanta Braves,...
, who, on July 29, 1999, shot and killed 9 people and injured 13 more. The shootings occurred at two Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
day trading
Day trading
Day trading refers to the practice of buying and selling financial instruments within the same trading day such that all positions are usually closed before the market close for the trading day...
firms, Momentum Securities and the All-Tech Investment Group. It is believed that Barton, a daytrader, was motivated by $105,000 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
in losses over the previous two months. Four hours after the Atlanta shootings, Barton committed suicide at a gas station in Acworth
Acworth, Georgia
Acworth is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,425. Acworth is located in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains along the southeastern banks of Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona on the Etowah River.Acworth's nickname is "The...
, Georgia. He had been spotted by police and was ordered to stop, but shot and killed himself before the police could reach him.
Following the shootings, police searching Barton's home found that his second wife, Leigh Ann Vandiver Barton, and two children, Matthew David Barton (12) and Mychelle Elizabeth Barton (10), had been murdered by hammer blows before the shooting spree; the children had then been placed in bed, as if sleeping. According to a note Barton left at the scene, his wife was killed July 27, and the children murdered July 28.
Prior to the massacre, Barton had been a suspect in the 1993 beating deaths of his first wife, Debra Spivey, and her mother, Eloise Spivey, in Cherokee County
Cherokee County, Alabama
Cherokee County, Alabama is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named for the Cherokee tribe. As of 2010 the population was 25,989. Its county seat is Centre and it is a prohibition or dry county.- History :...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. Although he was never charged in either of the crimes - and though the note he left with the bodies of his children and his second wife denied any involvement in the 1993 murders - he is still considered a suspect in those murders by authorities.
Education
Barton attended the University of South CarolinaUniversity of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, where he graduated with a chemistry degree in 1979.
Quotes
- Immediately prior to entering the manager's office at All-Tech, Barton was heard to say, "I hope this doesn't ruin your trading day."
- "There may be similarities between these deaths and the death of my first wife Debra Spivey. However, I deny killing her and her mother. There is no reason for me to lie now."
Victims
- Leigh Ann Vandiver Barton, 27, wife of Mark Barton
- Matthew David Barton, 11, son of Mark Barton
- Mychelle Elizabeth Barton, 8, daughter of Mark Barton
- Allen Charles Tenenbaum, 48, daytrader at All-Tech Investment Group
- Dean Delawalla, 52, daytrader at All-Tech Investment Group
- Joseph J. Dessert, 60, daytrader at All-Tech Investment Group
- Jamshid Havash, 45, daytrader at All-Tech Investment Group
- Vadewattee Muralidhara, 44, took a computer course at All-Tech Investment Group
- Edward Quinn, 58, daytrader at Momentum Securities
- Kevin Dial, 38, office manager at Momentum Securities
- Russell J. Brown, 42, daytrader at Momentum Securities
- Scott A. Webb, 30, daytrader at Momentum Securities
External links
- BBC News stories on the Atlanta shootings
- CourtTV's Crime Library feature
- Manhunt under way for suspect in Atlanta shootings, CNN (July 29, 1999)
- Investigators search for answers after 12 die in Georgia killings, CNN (July 30, 1999)
- Blood bath followed suspect's mounting stock losses, CNN (July 31, 1999)
- Mourners remember gunman's wife as soccer mom, Scout leader, CNN (August 1, 1999)
- A Portrait of the Killer, Time Magazine (August 9, 1999)
- Riding the Mo in the Lime Green Glow, New York Times (November 21, 1999)