Mark Barton

Case overview

Mark Orrin Barton (1955 – July 29, 1999) committed a spree killing in Stockbridge, Georgia, and shot people at two Atlanta day trading firms on July 29, 1999. He killed nine people and injured 13 more.

Four hours after the Atlanta shootings, Barton committed suicide at a gas station in Acworth, Georgia. Police had spotted him and ordered him to stop, but he shot himself before police could reach him.

Police found that Barton’s second wife and two children had been murdered by hammer blows before the shooting spree. Leigh Ann Vandiver Barton (27), Matthew David Barton (12), and Mychelle Elizabeth Barton (10) were killed in their home in Stockbridge. Police also found that the children had been placed in bed as if sleeping, and that handwritten notes were left on the victims. A note Barton left stated that his wife was killed July 27 and the children were murdered July 28.

Authorities later considered Barton a suspect in the 1993 beating deaths of his first wife, Debra Spivey, and her mother, Eloise Spivey, in Cherokee County, Alabama. Although Barton was never charged in either of those 1993 crimes and a note he left with the bodies of his children and his second wife denied any involvement in the 1993 murders, he was still considered a suspect.

Timeline

• July 27, 1999 — Barton killed his wife, Leigh Ann Vandiver Barton.
• July 28, 1999 — Barton murdered his children, Matthew David Barton and Mychelle Elizabeth Barton.
• July 29, 1999, 2:56 p.m. — Police received the first call reporting gunfire at Momentum Securities.
• July 29, 1999, 2:58 p.m. — A call told police four people were dead at Momentum.
• July 29, 1999, 3:00 p.m. — The first Atlanta police officer arrived at Momentum.
• July 29, 1999, 3:07 p.m. — Shots rang out at the Piedmont Center.
• July 29, 1999, 3:15 p.m. — Barton was reported nowhere in sight during the search at Piedmont Center.
• July 29, 1999, 3:23 p.m. — The manager of the Bristol Green apartment complex in Stockbridge called Henry County Police.
• July 29, 1999, 7:40 p.m. — Security officers at the Town Center Mall in Kennesaw saw Barton’s unoccupied van in the mall lot.
• July 29, 1999, 7:50 p.m. — Barton turned onto Ga. 92 in Acworth.
• July 29, 1999, 7:55 p.m. — The head injury was described as occurring when Barton turned a pistol on himself after police approached at the BP gasoline station.
• July 29, 1999 — Barton committed suicide at the BP gasoline station in Acworth by shooting himself.

The offence

Barton attacked his family first, then went to two Atlanta brokerage offices.

Family killings

Police reported that Barton killed his second wife and two children before the shooting spree. The children were found in their beds with their faces exposed. Police found a note on each body and a handwritten and typed set of notes at the scene.

The handwritten note contained the following verbiage dated July 29, 1999, 6:38 a.m.:

To Whom It May Concern: Leigh Ann is in the master bedroom closet under a blanket. I killed her on Tuesday night. I killed Matthew and Mychelle Wednesday night. 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's no reason for me to lie now. It just seemed like a quiet way to kill and a relatively painless way to die. There was little pain. All of them were dead in less than five minutes. I hit them with a hammer in their sleep and then put them face down in a bathtub to make sure they did not wake up in pain. To make sure they were dead. I am so sorry. I wish I didn't. Words cannot tell the agony. Why did I? I have been dying since October. I wake up at night so afraid, so terrified that I couldn't be that afraid while awake it has taken its toll. I have come to hate this life and this system of things. I have come to have no hope ... The fears of the father are transferred to the son. It was from my father to me and from me to my son... He already had it and now to be left alone. I had to take him with me. I killed Leigh Ann because she was one of the main reasons for my demise as I planned to kill the others. I really wish I hadn't killed her now. She really couldn't help it and I love her so much anyway. I know that Jehovah will take care of all of them in the next life. I'm sure the details don't matter. There is no excuse, no good reason I am sure no one will understand. If they could, I wouldn't want them to. I just write these things to say why. Please know that I love Leigh Ann, Matthew and Mychelle with all of my heart. If Jehovah is willing, I would like to see all of them again in the resurrection, to have a second chance. I don't plan to live very much longer, just long enough to kill as many of the people that greedily sought my destruction. You should kill me if you can. Mark O. Barton

Other verbiage attributed to Barton included: “I don't plan to live very much longer, just long enough to kill as many of the people that greedily sought my destruction.”

Police said Barton had bludgeoned his wife and children to death with a hammer while they slept, placed them into bed, and tucked them in. Police said he left a teddy bear on Mychelle’s body and a video game on Matthew’s body.

Shootings at Atlanta brokerage offices

Barton shot people at Momentum Securities and at the All-Tech Investment Group.

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."

At Momentum Securities, witnesses reported that Barton entered with firearms and opened fire. He allegedly said:

"I hope this doesn't upset your trading day"

He then shot people and killed four people at Momentum. He then traveled to All-Tech and killed five more people there.

In total, Barton killed nine people and injured 13 more during the shootings at the two offices.

Suicide during police pursuit

Barton was stopped at a BP gasoline station in Acworth. Police had followed him after earlier sightings, and an officer crouched behind a patrol car when Barton fired himself. Barton raised a 9 mm pistol to one side of his head and a .45-caliber pistol to the other. A witness described hearing a muffled sound and Barton’s head falling against the steering wheel.

Investigation

Police searched multiple locations during and after the shootings, including the area along Piedmont Road and office buildings in Buckhead. Officers also searched parking decks and used dogs. FBI agents searched the area along Piedmont Road.

Arrest / pursuit

Barton was pursued by police after being spotted at the Town Center Mall in Kennesaw. Police eventually spotted his minivan on I-75 near Wade Green Road and followed him. Officers followed him until he turned onto Ga. 92 in Acworth and drove into a BP gasoline station. The BP station stop ended with Barton’s suicide.

People involved

Suspect

Mark Orrin Barton (1955 – July 29, 1999) was the day trader and shooter.

Family victims killed earlier by hammer blows

• Leigh Ann Vandiver Barton, 27, wife of Mark Barton
• Matthew David Barton, 12, son of Mark Barton
• Mychelle Elizabeth Barton, 10, daughter of Mark Barton

Victims of the Atlanta shootings

The shootings in Atlanta killed nine people and injured 13 more. Named victims included:

• 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

Prior suspected conduct

Authorities considered Barton a suspect in the 1993 beating deaths of his first wife, Debra Spivey, and her mother, Eloise Spivey, in Cherokee County, Alabama. Barton was never charged in either of the 1993 crimes. The note left with the bodies of his children and second wife denied any involvement in the 1993 murders.

Other details

Business and trading

Barton was described as a day trader. Momentum Securities said he posted losses during trading at its Atlanta office between 9 June and 27 July, and reported he lost around $105,000 while trading on its computer system between 9 June and 27 July. Momentum Securities also said Barton had enough money to cover his losses. Another reported amount was that Barton lost about $105,000 since June, almost all on volatile Internet stocks.

All-Tech was described as a day-trading firm where Barton was a customer but had not traded with the company for months.

Insurance and motive claims

Barton left notes indicating he had been “dying since October” and addressed his “demise” and “greedily sought my destruction.” Police and other reporting described Barton as believing his motivation included his trading losses.

Police response remarks and quotations

Mayor Bill Campbell was quoted as saying: “He was the No. 1 suspect all the way through and still was,” was attributed to Richard Igou (district attorney at the time of the killings), and another quote attributed to Mayor Bill Campbell included: “We have no information at all” on what set off the killing spree, and “except we're certain Mr. Barton came to Piedmont Road and killed nine people.”

Officer statements included: “He was immediately told that four people were dead and he went up to Suite 310,” and “Calls for help Police got the first call about the gunfire at Momentum's third floor office at 2:56 p.m.”

Witness quotations during pursuit

Witnesses included an account from Dane Pritchett that police shouted and that Barton’s head fell after the muffled sound. Another witness account included Mannon Smith’s statement:

“It was this totally, totally freakish thing,” Smith said. “I was absolutely positive it was him. I was shocked. You pull up behind a car and here was this guy everyone is looking for. Nobody expected him in Kennesaw.”

Other named individuals in the events

• Richard Igou (district attorney at the time of the 1993 killings)
• Mike O’Dell (current district attorney referenced in relation to monitoring Barton's whereabouts)
• David McDade (Douglas County district attorney who reviewed the custody case)
• Henry County police chief Jimmy Mercer (Henry County)
• Capt. Jim Simmons (Henry County Police Department)
• Atlanta Police Chief Beverly Harvard
• Reginald McCoy (paramedic with Grady Hospital)
• Lori Woodward (witness at 3423 Piedmont Road)
• Henry County Police Department referenced in relation to the apartment response
• Cobb County Police Officer Huel Clements
• Cpl. Curtis Endicott (Acworth Police Department)
• Dane Pritchett (witness)
• Jim Fowler (Amoco service station clerk)
• Travis Holmes (Scout conversation witness)
• Marsha Jean DeFreese (neighbor who described her impression)
• Bill Campbell (Atlanta mayor)
• Beverly Harvard (Atlanta Police Chief)
• Al Gore was referenced as having called to offer assistance
• Richard Igou and Henry County police chief Jimmy Mercer were quoted regarding suspects

Family relationships and custody / child abuse allegation mentioned

A neighbor and other reports described issues including a February 1994 allegation by Mychelle that her father sexually molested her, and that a psychologist said Barton “certainly was capable” of committing homicide. The case was described as difficult for state attorneys to build a solid case around her or prevent him from keeping custody of the kids.