Fla. man accused of killing ex-girlfriend’s aunt and burning her body

TITUSVILLE, Fla. (TCN) -- A 35-year-old man is in custody on multiple charges for allegedly killing his ex-girlfriend’s aunt and burning her remains.

Jessie Kirk was reported missing to the Titusville Police Department on March 4 after she failed to show up for her morning walk, which her friends noted was "highly unusual." She was listed as missing under "highly suspicious circumstances."

Police searched the area near Kirk’s apartment and came across a "suspicious male" with burn marks on his arms. Officers arrested the man, David Barber, for loitering and prowling, and learned Barber had been in a relationship with one of Kirk’s relatives. Around the same time, officers located Kirk’s burned vehicle in Orange County.

In an update, Titusville Police announced they discovered Kirk’s body near Haulover Canal. Barber was additionally charged with first-degree premeditated murder, arson of a vehicle, burglary of an occupied structure, abuse of a dead human body, theft, and two counts of tampering with evidence.

According to Barber’s arrest affidavit, officers spoke with Kirk’s friends at her apartment building and gained access to her garage. Police reportedly noticed a "strong odor of bleach and cleaning chemicals in the air, and the floor was wet with what appeared to be a combination of water and bleach."

Kirk’s family searched for her vehicle in its last known area, but it was no longer there. However, they noticed Barber’s vehicle and found it odd because Barber and Kirk’s niece had not been in a relationship for about a year and he doesn’t live in the Titusville area. His car was allegedly in the same vicinity as where Kirk’s was last seen.

Kirk’s niece reportedly filed an injunction against Barber for stalking after their breakup, and he reportedly had charges relating to an attempted burglary at his ex-girlfriend’s apartment. The affidavit says the niece received a text from Kirk on March 4 at 4:42 a.m. about how she felt "concerned for her safety, and she planned to go into hiding." The niece, however, noted the writing did not sound like Kirk.

A resident told police they saw a man walking back and forth between Kirk’s car and Barber’s vehicle and that the man switched parking spaces several times throughout the night.

Titusville Police conducted surveillance on Kirk’s apartment building and saw Barber walk into the parking lot. He reportedly had a "very large injury on his right arm, which appeared to be consistent with a burn from high heat," as well as singed hair and a burned shirt. The affidavit noted he had "pieces of vegetation about the lower portions of his pants."

Officers inquired about the burns, but he said he "would rather not talk about it." Then, he claimed, "Accidents happen."

Another witness informed police that they saw a man matching Barber’s appearance near a vehicle fire, which matched the location where Kirk’s car was found. Police found Kirk’s "badly burned" body off a dirt road but was "clearly visible from the road." Officials needed to use dental records to positively identify Kirk.

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