George Edenfield: Murder, Christopher Barrios Jr., TBD
As Slain Boy's Viewing Begins, 3 Charged With Murder Sex Offender, His Parents, Friend All Charged POSTED: 11:07 am EDT March 21, 2007 UPDATED: 5:50 pm EDT March 21, 2007 BRUNSWICK, Ga. -- On the day family, friends and a community were touched by his loss pays tribute to 6-year-old Christopher Barrios Jr., a grand jury returned charges of capital murder, kidnapping, aggravated child molestation against a sex offender and his parents. After a weeklong search, Christopher's body was found last Thursday in a trash bag near Brunswick's airport. A viewing for Christopher is set to begin Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Edo Miller Funeral Home in Brunswick. Christopher's funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday. Glynn County police said convicted sex offender George Edenfield admitted killing the boy, but until the grand jury met, he was only held on a violation of his probation. Edenfield, his parents and family friend Donald Dale were all arrested during the search for Christopher. George Edenfield was arrested four days into the search after admitting he had unsupervised contact with Christopher. Peggy and David Edenfield, along with Dale, were also arrested during the search and charged with giving false information to authorities and concealing a death. At Wednesday's meeting, the Glynn County returned a 13-count indictment. All three Edenfields are charged with murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, enticing a child for indecent purposes, false imprisonment and cruelty to children. George and David Edenfield is also charged with aggravated child molestation, with Peggy Edenfield is charged with child molestation. All three and Dale are also charged with concealing the death of a person and tampering with evidence. The prosecutor told Channel 4's Emily Pantelides that he would be seeking the death penalty against the Edenfields. Sue Rodriquez, Christopher's grandmother, remains in shock over his abduction and slaying. She is outraged that the man suspected of killing the boy -- a man that lived across the street from her -- never served any prison time for previous cases of molesting children. According to court documents obtained by Channel 4, in 1997 George Edenfield admitted he molested 7- and 9-year-old boys who lived near him. He was convicted and placed on probation. Christopher Barrios Jr. disappeared from a playground hear his home about 6 p.m. on March 8. His body was found a week later in a trash bag near the Burnswick airport. "I think that's awful sorry of a judge, knowing ... that he's already molested two children -- he's in violation of probation, to turn around and send him home," Rodriquez said. Just three days before Christopher disappeared from a playground about half-way between his grandmother's home and where the boy lived with his father, Edenfield was back in court. Court records show Edenfield pleaded guilty March 5 to violating his parole but was again released and allowed to return home. "If the judge would have kept in him jail, our baby would be here," Rodriquez said. "He wouldn't have been in heaven with God." http://www.news4jax.com/news/11317320/detail.html

Judge Who Gave Accused Killer Probation To Oversee Murder Trial Slain Boy's Family Upset About Judge Selection The family of Christopher Barrios, the 6-year-old kidnapped and killed in South Georgia, is displeased at the district attorney's office announcement that the same judge who let Christopher's accused killer out on probation is going to be the judge in Christopher's murder case. George Edenfield, a convicted sex offender and one of three suspects accused of killing Christopher, faced a judge on a probation violation charge just a few days before the boy disappeared. The same judge who decided not to lock up Edenfield is expected to handle his murder trial. "I tried sleeping last night. I can't sleep because I still wonder -- baby could've been home. You go to sleep and try to pray to God to watch over us to get through it and to see our little angel's face," said Christopher's grandmother, Sue Rodriguez. However, with Thursday's announcement, there's another thought to keep Christopher's grandmother awake even longer. "No way on God's green earth is he going to try it," Rodriguez said. "He already messed up once. I don't want him to have a second shot at it." "I don't know if he's going to be lenient to him again or if something is actually going to be done this time," said family friend Anette Smith. "Are we going to have to worry about another one of our babies going missing?" Christopher Barrios Jr. disappeared from a playground hear his home about 6 p.m. on March 8. His body was found a week later in a trash bag near the Burnswick airport. Neither the district attorney's office nor the judge who is supposed to preside over the trial were available for comment on Thursday. "That man Edenfield should have been locked up and kept off the streets, instead of being turned free. If he had of, our baby wouldn't be gone," Rodriguez said. "If predators like this weren't put back on the street, then there wouldn't be stuff like this going on," said Christopher's uncle, Carlos Barrios. The Barrios family members told Channel 4 they are trying to move. Rodriguez said every morning she awakes and looks across the street, she sees the Edenfields' trailer and feels that it is in the best interest of the family to move. Anyone wishing to make donations to Christopher's family can do so at any Bank of America to the Christopher Barrios Foundation Fund. http://www.news4jax.com/news/11405979/detail.html

Molester, parents plead not guilty in slaying of GA six-year-old April 19, 2007 05:18 PM EDT BRUNSWICK, GA (AP) - A convicted child molester and his parents pleaded not guilty Friday to charges they kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered a six-year-old boy whose body was found last month wrapped in a trash bag and dumped by a roadside. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for 32-year-old George David Edenfield and his parents, David and Peggy Edenfield for the March 8 slaying of young Christopher Michael Barrios. Investigators say Christopher was sexually assaulted and choked to death in the Edenfields' trailer across the street from his grandmother's home. He had been missing for a week when police discovered his body March 15. Attorneys for each of the three suspects entered their pleas in Glynn County Superior Court. Brought into the courtroom one at a time, none of the suspects spoke or showed much emotion. http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6368713

Last modified 8/14/2007 - 7:18 am Originally created 081407 Judge rejects gag order in Edenfield case The judge also forbade lawyers from discussing evidence. By Teresa Stepzinski, The Times-Union BRUNSWICK - A Glynn County judge refused Monday to impose a gag order in the case of George Edenfield, who faces the death penalty if convicted of the sexual abuse slaying of Christopher Michael Barrios Jr. However, Superior Court Judge Stephen Scarlett forbade both prosecutors and Edenfield's attorneys from releasing information or publicly discussing evidence in the case. "The court finds no reason to impose a gag order in this case except with respect to anticipated trial evidence," Scarlett said in a written order. Edenfield's attorneys Gerald Word and Todd Wooten previously had argued that a gag order on all attorneys, witnesses, police and court personnel was necessary to "control prejudicial publicity" and ensure his right to a fair trial. There is a difference, the judge ruled, between general and detailed knowledge about the case. "While a general public awareness that a crime occurred and certain persons were arrested and charged with it is to be expected, and that is not prejudicial, a fair trial cannot be provided unless the jurors hear the trial evidence for the first time during the trial," Scarlett ruled. Scarlett also ruled that attorneys for the Times-Union and other news media must be allowed to present legal arguments opposing a motion by Word and Wooten to close pre-trial hearings to the public including the news media. In addition, attorneys for the media may attend the hearing in which Word and Wooten argue to close a limited portion of the proceedings, Scarlett ordered. The judge will take up that issue along with other matters involving potential evidence in the case beginning Oct. 29. Edenfield has pleaded not guilty in the March 8 slaying of the 6-year-old Glynn County boy. His parents, David and Peggy Edenfield, are also charged with murder in the death and have also pleaded not guilty. All remain jailed without bail at the Glynn County Detention Center and will be tried separately. No trial dates have been set in the case. On Monday, Scarlett ruled on 86 motions - regarding trial procedures and seeking evidence from prosecutors - presented by Word and Wooten on July 30 in the first of a series of pre-trial hearings in the case. Among the issues decided by the judge were the following: - Denied a defense request to limit use of the word "murder" in reference to Christopher's death. - Granted a defense motion to allow Edenfield and his lawyers to view the crime scene subject to whatever security precautions are deemed necessary by Glynn County Sheriff Wayne Bennett. - Will allow prosecutors to present evidence about how Christopher's death has affected his family and friends as long as it is done according to the protocol established by state law. - Denied defense motions to declare Georgia's death penalty unconstitutional, and denied related motions to forbid its imposition in the case. teresa.stepzinski@jacksonville. com, (912) 264-0405 http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/081407/geo_191177359.shtml

Last modified 10/26/2007 - 10:53 pm Originally created 10/27/07 Bid for Barrios slaying suspect His attorneys file a motion that he is mentally incompetent. By Teresa Stepzinski, The Times-Union BRUNSWICK - Attorneys for George D. Edenfield contend he is mentally incompetent and cannot stand trial for the sexual abuse slaying of 6-year-old Christopher Michael Barrios Jr. On Friday, Superior Court Judge Stephen Scarlett postponed a pretrial hearing scheduled for Monday for Edenfield because his attorneys filed a special motion claiming he is incompetent and doesn't understand the charges or court proceedings. Edenfield, 31, and his parents, David H. and Peggy C. Edenfield, each face the death penalty if convicted of malice murder in the March 8 death of the Glynn County kindergarten student. All three Edenfields have pleaded not guilty and remain jailed without bail at the Glynn County Detention Center. George Edenfield has "extremely low intellectual functioning," and "it is clear that is incapable of understanding the nature or import of these proceedings," his attorneys, Gerald Word and Todd Wooten, wrote in the motion. His incompetency has hampered Word and Wooten's ability to investigate the case properly and prepare his defense, they said. The attorneys have submitted to the judge the results of various mental capacity testing on George Edenfield, copies of his school records and other evidence. They contend those items prove he is incompetent to stand trial. To protect his rights to privacy and a fair trial, those exhibits are sealed. District Attorney Stephen Kelley wasn't surprised by the motion. However, he declined comment when asked about George Edenfield's mental capacity or ability to know right from wrong. In previous court hearings, George Edenfield appeared confused. Former neighbors and classmates described him as having a diminished mental capacity. By law, the case cannot proceed unless George Edenfield is deemed mentally competent. A special civil trial now must be held to determine George Edenfield's mental capacity, his understanding of court proceedings and his ability to assist in his own defense. It probably will be a couple of months before the competency trial can be held. George Edenfield first must undergo mental evaluations by mental health officials for both the prosecution and his attorneys, Kelley said. Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering previously told the Times-Union that there was no doubt in his mind that George Edenfield knows right from wrong and that he did graduate from high school. George Edenfield is a registered sex offender convicted of two counts of child molestation in 1997. His father, David Edenfield, 58, was convicted of incest against his daughter in 1994, but isn't a registered sex offender because his conviction occurred two years before the Georgia law took effect. The father and son are charged with taking turns sexually abusing Christopher while Peggy Edenfield, 57, watched and masturbated. All three are charged with killing Christopher. Christopher was asphyxiated and his body was found inside a plastic trash bag in woods about two miles from the Canal Mobile Home Park, where he and his extended family were neighbors of the Edenfields. An Edenfield family friend, Donald Dale, 34, of Brunswick, is charged with helping dispose of Christopher's body. Dale has pleaded not guilty to charges of concealing a death and tampering with evidence. He hasn't been charged with murder, and doesn't face the death penalty. Dale also is jailed pending trial. No trial dates have been set for the Edenfields or Dale, court records show. Neither Christopher's father, Christopher "Mike" Barrios Sr., nor his paternal grandmother, Sue Rodriguez, could be located for comment by the Times-Union. teresa.stepzinski@jacksonville.com, (912) 264-0405 http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/102707/geo_212484890.shtml