Convicted sex offender raped 87-year-old Adams County woman before strangling her, cops say
Sophie Kaplan
The man who strangled 87-year-old Virginia Barbour in her Huntington Township home on Wednesday also sexually assaulted her repeatedly and tried to set her house on fire, according to court documents released Monday.
Gartrell entered Barbour's home the day before Thanksgiving, stole guns, coins and other valuables, raped her twice, strangled her to death and then set her house on fire, according to an affidavit filed with District Judge Tony Little.
"This is one of the most heinous murders and related assaults I have ever seen," District Attorney Brian Sinnett said.
"A sentence consistent with the criminal act is appropriate but it is premature to say what that is," Sinnett said when asked about the possibility of the prosecution pursuing the death penalty.
Police charged Gartrell with criminal homicide and seven felonies, including rape, kidnapping and arson, among other charges. He was taken to Adams County prison with no bail.
Dean and Nancy Tate, neighbors of more than 40 years, described Barbour as a feisty woman and a wonderful friend. Nancy did Barbour's hair every Thursday, and Dean would often go to Barbour's house to help her fix things around the house.
"We were devastated," Nancy said.
Dorothy Koontz, Barbour's cleaning lady and friend, called police after she arrived at Barbour's house at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and found the house in disarray. She could not find Barbour, according to the affidavit.
Pennsylvania State Police arrived at the house in the 100 block of Peach Glen-Idaville Road, shortly after Koontz called.
More: Read Virginia Barbour's obituary
Police found a body wrapped in a sheet under a bed. In that bedroom, a jewelry box had been rummaged through, and there were nine long guns on a rocking chair and gasoline cans, according to the police report.
Other bedrooms had been rummaged, and it appeared that some guns were missing, as well as the victim's car, a silver 2012 Chevrolet Impala, and about $1,200 in coins.
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Police could smell gasoline throughout the house and found burn patterns on the floor.
State police investigators questioned neighbors on Friday, and that led them to Sheila Schriver, Gartrell's girlfriend.
Schriver told police that she knew about the incident, and that Gartrell threatened to hurt her and her family if she went against his wishes, according to the affidavit.
Schriver said she drove Gartrell to various locations in Adams and York counties. She eventually took him to the Presidential Inn in Gettysburg.
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Police arrested Gartrell outside of the inn as he was preparing to leave. He was found with items allegedly stolen from the victim's house, including a Smith and Wesson .44 revolver, coins and a pair of women's underwear, according to police.
In custody, according to the affidavit, Gartrell confessed to entering Barbour's unlocked house, forcing her to show him where the valuables were, restraining and raping her twice, killing Barbour, setting the house on fire and fleeing the scene in her car.
Gartrell has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 5, according to online court documents.
Gartrell, who is listed on the South Carolina sex offender registry, was previously convicted of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree in South Carolina in 1997. He has also been convicted of kidnapping and other charges in South Carolina.
He is one of the 19 most wanted suspects in South Carolina after failing to report to state probation in August 2018, according to thestate.com.
Sophie Kaplan is a reporter for The Evening Sun. Follow her on Twitter @yofisofi.