A transient man suspected in the May killing of a 66-year-old Vancouver woman told the court during his first appearance Wednesday that “she asked me to do it.”
“It was compassion,” David James Barker said as Clark County Deputy Prosecutor Patrick Robinson read the charge. “Yeah, it was compassion. She asked me to do it. I’m not a monster.”
Barker, 44, appeared in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with the slaying of Sharon Allison in her apartment at Columbia House, 130 W. 24th St. He was arrested Friday in Portland by the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force after detectives linked him to Allison’s death based on DNA found on a cigarette butt and lamp stand inside her apartment, according to court records.
A judge previously found probable cause for the charge, Judge Derek Vanderwood told Barker.
“There is no probable cause your honor,” Barker said. “It was compassion. She asked me to do it.”
Later in the proceedings, Barker is heard on the court’s audio recording repeatedly telling his appointed attorney, Jeff Sowder, that he confessed to the crime.
“Well, I confessed,” Barker tells Sowder.
“Well, but don’t do that,” Sowder replies.
“I understand that, but it was compassion,” Barker says.
Allison was last seen alive on the morning of May 8 talking to an unidentified man in the hallway of her apartment building. The next day, police found her body inside her one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment. Her body had been placed inside an 80-gallon, blue recycling bin in her living room, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.
Allison had mental and physical disabilities, court records said. Her caregiver called 911 when she was unable to reach her. She had stopped by Allison’s apartment at about 11:30 a.m. May 9. The caregiver and then the floor monitor knocked on Allison’s apartment door but received no answer.
DNA evidence
While searching the apartment, detectives found a cigarette butt in Allison’s bathroom and later learned she did not smoke. They also seized a “lamp stand leg with a decorative circular trim piece detached from the bottom” found near Allison’s body, the affidavit said.
An autopsy concluded that Allison died of blunt-force head trauma. A pattern of injuries at the base of her head and corresponding skull fractures have led police to believe the lamp stand was likely the weapon used, court records show.
The DNA found on the cigarette butt came back as a match to Barker after running it against the Washington State Patrol’s DNA database, according to court documents. DNA found on the lamp stand leg also was a possible match to Barker’s DNA, the affidavit said.
In December, a maintenance man, who was the last to see Allison alive with the man she was talking to, identified that man as Barker in a photo lineup, court documents said. A warrant was issued for Barker’s arrest last week.
Allison was the victim of an assault in 1984 that left her with severe head trauma. She suffered an aneurysm and stroke years later that surgeons said was a delayed effect of her injuries, according to Allison’s family. She then underwent surgery and nearly died several times. She was left disabled on the left half of her body, making walking difficult. Allison also had a severely reduced mental capacity, her family said.
Family members told detectives that Allison was “naively trusting and easily taken advantage of,” according to the affidavit.
Vancouver Police Detective Lawrence Zapata said Allison and Barker knew each other and that Allison had let him into the building. Allison and Barker’s paths crossed during one of Allison’s walks in downtown Vancouver, a place Barker would frequent, Zapata said.
Court appearance
During his hearing, Barker covered his face from a news photographer’s camera. Vanderwood reminded him that anything he says can be used against him in court.
Robinson asked Vanderwood to set Barker’s bail at $1 million, in part because Barker has had 12 prior warrants. He said Barker took advantage of Allison, who was a vulnerable victim. Barker also had been released from jail about 10 days before the attack, Robinson said.
Barker was arrested April 12 on a charge of second-degree malicious mischief. He pleaded guilty April 27 in Superior Court and was given a 20-day sentence, court records show.
Sowder argued the prosecution’s bail request was too high for a case based on DNA. He asked for $100,000 bail.
Vanderwood set bail at $800,000. Barker will be arraigned March 30.
Reporter Emily Gillespie contributed to this story.
