Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Science
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Science
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Elections 2019
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / World News / This 1998 murder remained unsolved, until 'killer' applied for job
  • World

    This 1998 murder remained unsolved, until 'killer' applied for job

    Siddhant Pandey
    Written by
    Siddhant Pandey
    Twitter
    Last updated on Aug 22, 2019, 05:20 pm
    This 1998 murder remained unsolved, until 'killer' applied for job
  • In 1998, a woman was found murdered at a consignment store in Florida, United States.

    The police found trails of blood that didn't belong to the victim, Sondra Better, but no trace of the killer, who had seemingly fled with the murder weapon.

    The case went cold until, 21 years later, one Todd Barket applied for a job that required him to submit fingerprints.

  • In this article
    Better found stabbed, bludgeoned at store where she worked Better was due for retirement; was nearing 50th wedding anniversary Killer's blood, fingerprint were run through database, led nowhere Police investigated 37 suspects; none matched killer's DNA, fingerprints Todd Barket showed up on police radar after job application Notably, Barket was never a suspect for the murder Barket was arrested from home on March 27 Defense attorney alleged shoddy police work despite evidence
  • Incident

    Better found stabbed, bludgeoned at store where she worked

    Better found stabbed, bludgeoned at store where she worked
  • Better (68) worked at Lu Shay's Consignment Boutique, Delray Beach, Florida.

    On August 24, 1998, two teenagers found the store open beyond closing time, and spotted Better in a pool of blood, dead.

    She had been stabbed and bludgeoned. She also tried fighting off the killer, who left a trail of their own blood.

    The killer then fled after stealing cash from the register.

  • Information

    Better was due for retirement; was nearing 50th wedding anniversary

  • Better had worked at Lu Shay's for 10 years, and would have retired soon. She was planning to renew her wedding vows with her husband of 50 years on their anniversary. Her husband, Zeke Better, died in 2015 awaiting justice. Better is survived by her three daughters.

  • Evidence

    Killer's blood, fingerprint were run through database, led nowhere

  • The police had found an empty cake cutter box (Better was plausibly stabbed with a cake cutter) and two decorative marble balls, covered in Better's blood, near the body.

    A third marble ball, part of the same set, was found placed atop a glass table, and it had a fingerprint.

    The police ran the killer's blood and fingerprints through a nationwide database, but to no avail.

  • Suspect(s)

    Police investigated 37 suspects; none matched killer's DNA, fingerprints

    Police investigated 37 suspects; none matched killer's DNA, fingerprints
  • The police worked off a possible description of the suspect from a witness: A tall, blonde, slender, white man.

    In 2000, The Sun-Sentinel reported that 37 suspects were investigated, including a man who visited a hospital with a cut on his hand on the night of the murder, and another who visited the store frequently to inquire about the murder.

    None matched the killer's DNA.

  • New evidence

    Todd Barket showed up on police radar after job application

  • Two decades after the murder, as the Better family's hope to find justice waned, 51-year-old Todd Barket applied for a job at a Florida nursing home in December last year.

    Barket was required to submit his fingerprints to the Agency for Healthcare Administration for a routine background check, which led the police right to him.

    The fingerprints matched, and later, so did the DNA.

  • Information

    Notably, Barket was never a suspect for the murder

  • At the time of the murder, Barket was aged 29 and lived in a mobile home near Lantana, roughly 10 miles from Delray Beach. He was never a suspect and as per state criminal records, did not have any previous Florida felony arrests.

  • Arrest

    Barket was arrested from home on March 27

    Barket was arrested from home on March 27
  • On March 27, two Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies arrested him from his Brandon apartment in suburban Tampa.

    According to The Palm Beach Post, when the detective told him he was under arrest for the '98 murder, Barket shrugged and said, "OK."

    He was charged with first-degree murder and robbery.

    On August 19, the trial began in the Palm Beach County Circuit Court.

  • Trial

    Defense attorney alleged shoddy police work despite evidence

  • Meanwhile, Barket's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Joseph Walsh, told the 14-person jury about shoddy police work, alleging "failure in the processing of the crime scene."

    However, Assistant State Attorney Richard Clausi argued, "There is no other explanation for his blood being everywhere the killer's blood and robber's blood would be."

    Clausi added, "Blood can tell a compelling story, even 21 years later."

Latest News
  • MP: 13-year-old gang-raped thrice by 9 men in 5 days
    MP: 13-year-old gang-raped thrice by 9 men in 5 days
    India
  • Brisbane Test, Day 3: Records broken by Sundar and Thakur
    Brisbane Test, Day 3: Records broken by Sundar and Thakur
    Sports
  • Co-WIN app suffers glitches on 1st day of vaccination drive
    Co-WIN app suffers glitches on 1st day of vaccination drive
    India
  • All about Lagom: The Swedish way to a happy life
    All about Lagom: The Swedish way to a happy life
    Lifestyle
Related Timelines
  • George Floyd death: Bail raised to $1.25m for accused ex-cop
    George Floyd death: Bail raised to $1.25m for accused ex-cop
    World
  • How the George Floyd case sparked violent protests across US
    How the George Floyd case sparked violent protests across US
    World
  • 72-year-old man killed by son during Zoom call in US
    72-year-old man killed by son during Zoom call in US
    World
Next News Article
Share
Cancel

Want to share it with your friends too?

Facebook Whatsapp Twitter Linkedin
Copied

Love World news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

World Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Science News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Cricket News Donald Trump Arnab Goswami Hollywood News WhatsApp Bollywood News
Vaccine Congress Tesla Manchester United Farmers Protest International Monetary Fund SCG Test Bajaj Dominar 400 Latest Gadget Launch Latest Automobile News
Coronavirus Brisbane Test MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ COVAXIN Latest Tech News
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us News News Archive Topics Archive Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2021