Mary Ann Adams and her brother, John Barrett, were tried together and convicted of murder by a Lauderdale County Circuit Court jury. They were each sentenced to life in prison. Following the denial of their post trial motions each has perfected an appeal in which they have asserted various allegations of error. Finding no reversible error, this Court affirms their convictions and sentences..
FACTS (from the appeal of the defendants)
The body of Mary Ann Woolf, was found lying face down in a creek bed in Lauderdale County. Her automobile was perched on an embankment about fifteen feet above the location of her body. Law enforcement authorities immediately suspected that the scene had been staged to look like an accident. Woolf’s automobile was dusted and processed for fingerprints and an autopsy was performed on her body. The state medical examiner who performed the autopsy testified that the cause of Woolf’s death was fresh water drowning. He testified that, in his professional opinion, the manner of death indicated a homicide. He testified that certain marks and bruising on the body were evidence that Woolf had been forcibly held under water when she drowned. Also, there was expert testimony that there was very little damage to Woolf’s car and the minor impact of the car going down the embankment was not enough to have caused Woolf to be ejected from the automobile.
Adams was the last person known to have seen the victim alive and came under early suspicion. Fingerprints found on the victim’s car were later matched to Adams’s brother and co-defendant, John Barrett.
Gone from us: Mary Ann Woolf
Prosecutors, defense outline cases in murder trial of Adams, Barrett
John Barrett and Mary Ann Adams v State of Mississippi
John W. Barrett v State Mississippi 2012 (habeas corpus) denied
Mary Ann Adams & John W. Barrett v State of Mississippi 2012
Movies/Documentariess
Swamp Murders: Mississippi Black Widow
INMATE INFORMATION
MARY ADAMS
MDOC ID Number: K5568
Race: WHITE
Sex: FEMALE
Date of Birth: 06/20/1950
Height: 5′ 3”
Weight: 145
Complexion: FAIR
Build: UNKNOWN
Eye Color: BROWN
Hair Color: BROWN
Entry Date: 02/22/2001
Location: CMCF UNIT: CMCF QB
Location Change Date: 09/24/2012
Number of Sentences: 1 Total Length: LIFE
OFFENSE 1: HOMICIDE/MURDER
Sentence Length: LIFE
County of Conviction: LAUDERDALE
Sentence Date:
INMATE INFORMATION
JOHN BARRETT
MDOC ID Number: 27578
Race: WHITE
Sex: MALE
Date of Birth: 03/28/1955
Height: 5′ 10”
Weight: 200
Complexion: FAIR
Build: MEDIUM
Eye Color: BLUE
Hair Color: BROWN
Entry Date: 02/27/2001
Location: EAST MISS. CCF
UNIT: EMCF UNIT 3
Location Change Date: 12/24/2014
Number of Sentences: 1 Total Length: LIFE
OFFENSE 1: HOMICIDE/MURDER
Sentence Length: LIFE
County of Conviction: LAUDERDALE
Sentence Date:
