John Barrett's Chevrolet Blazer slowed as he neared the only traffic signal in Floral City. Then as the light turned
green he gripped the steering wheel and accelerated. If anybody had ever screwed up, he had done that today. He
had screwed up on a job he was hired to do. His bosses at the carlot had promised him money to kill Joanne Sanders.
This August 3 day in 1990 should never had come.
He was watching television, it seemed, as his actions played back in his mind's eye.
The show began the previous year, when he stopped to look at a car at the International Auto Sales in Melrose.
He soon made the carlot his hangout and landed a job as the shop's part-time mechanic.
Loose talk between John and the business owners, Dorsey Sanders III and Scott Burnside, ended with John deciding
to be their hit man. The plan was that he kill Dorsey's mother to prevent her getting a large divorce settlement from
Dorsey's father, Doc Sander's.
John was 24-years-old, stout, with a head of thick sandy-colored hair hanging over his tanned face. He usually
wore short-sleeved shirts, thus allowing folks to see the Mighty Mouse tattoo on his right upper arm. (Text omitted
here)
After that day, the plan to kill Joann Sanders was the main topic of conversation among folks hanging out at the
carlot and with the shed gang at Doc Sander's 350-acre Big Ben Ranch. If John didn't grab this opportunity someone
else would, they all joked. Joanne Sanders was a good as dead.
The movie played over and over in John's head as he got closer to Melrose. If the story had ended as planned; if
the players had been true to script; if he had acted out his part--if only he had not screwed up--he and Paula would
be rich tomorrow. (Story included in Murders In The Swampland)
green he gripped the steering wheel and accelerated. If anybody had ever screwed up, he had done that today. He
had screwed up on a job he was hired to do. His bosses at the carlot had promised him money to kill Joanne Sanders.
This August 3 day in 1990 should never had come.
He was watching television, it seemed, as his actions played back in his mind's eye.
The show began the previous year, when he stopped to look at a car at the International Auto Sales in Melrose.
He soon made the carlot his hangout and landed a job as the shop's part-time mechanic.
Loose talk between John and the business owners, Dorsey Sanders III and Scott Burnside, ended with John deciding
to be their hit man. The plan was that he kill Dorsey's mother to prevent her getting a large divorce settlement from
Dorsey's father, Doc Sander's.
John was 24-years-old, stout, with a head of thick sandy-colored hair hanging over his tanned face. He usually
wore short-sleeved shirts, thus allowing folks to see the Mighty Mouse tattoo on his right upper arm. (Text omitted
here)
After that day, the plan to kill Joann Sanders was the main topic of conversation among folks hanging out at the
carlot and with the shed gang at Doc Sander's 350-acre Big Ben Ranch. If John didn't grab this opportunity someone
else would, they all joked. Joanne Sanders was a good as dead.
The movie played over and over in John's head as he got closer to Melrose. If the story had ended as planned; if
the players had been true to script; if he had acted out his part--if only he had not screwed up--he and Paula would
be rich tomorrow. (Story included in Murders In The Swampland)
Dorsey Sanders III (center) was accused of plotting to
kill Joanne Sanders, his mother
kill Joanne Sanders, his mother
A cool John Barrett watches his parents and sister break down
in the courtroom after he was sentenced to death in the Florida
electric chair
in the courtroom after he was sentenced to death in the Florida
electric chair
Joann Sanders's Floral City house
where four men were beaten to
death during a murder for hire
sceme
where four men were beaten to
death during a murder for hire
sceme
A gun sliencer was constructed in this shed on
property belonging to Doc Sanders (Dorsey's
father)
property belonging to Doc Sanders (Dorsey's
father)
John Barrett worked part time at this carlot in
Melrose owned by Dorsey Sanders III and Scott
Burnside
Melrose owned by Dorsey Sanders III and Scott
Burnside
| She's As Good As Dead: a true crime story inclued in Murders In The Swampland John Barrett was sentenced to death in Florida's electric chair before getting his sentenced reduced to life in prison |