Who could have ever thought that a dedicated wife, mother, and church leader can murder someone? Not only murder but can almost get away from the murder? Barbara Stager thought that nobody will ever get to know what she did and why?

What Happened – The Question

On the morning of 1st February 1988, a call was made to 911 stating that someone had shot her husband. It was Barbara Stager who called 911 to inform her husband Russell had been shot. At that time, even Barbara would not have thought about what could be the consequences of making this call. The investigators had alarming secrets to tell the world.

After the call was made, the police came, and Barbara told them Russell always kept a gun hiding under the pillow. She said he used to keep the gun in fear of home invaders. Barbara said that she accidentally fired the gun while she was trying to change its location. She said it was done in error while she was sleeping, and her hand pressed the trigger that killed her husband.

At first, the police believed the story that it was an accidental death. Nobody could believe that Barbara could have done anything. Everyone, including her family, friends, and neighbors, told the police that she was a kind-hearted and devoted mother of two. Moreover, she was a full-hearted Christian and a Sunday school teacher. Therefore, there was no reason to suspect her.

Russell Stager and Barbara Stager’s Life

Russell, or Russ Stager, was a popular football coach at Durham High School. He was married to Barbara Stager, who was his second wife. On 1st February 1988, he was found covered in blood when his wife called to inform him about the accidental shooting. However, she didn’t know that Stager called his first wife a few days back to tell her how he feared his life.

He was suspicious that his wife, Barbara, whom he married seven years ago, was responsible for his first husband’s death. As per Barabara, her first husband – Larry Ford, died in an accidental gun shooting. But Russell was questioning his wife and was thinking whether it was an accident or a homicide. 

Before marrying Barbara, Russ was married to Lynn Snow for five years. When Russ told Snow before his last days that he was worried for his life, she promised him that she would seek justice if something wrong ever happened.

What Happened to Barbara Stager?

For almost one and half years, Barbara was out of reach from the police until August 1989, when she was found guilty of murdering her husband. Stager was found guilty of first-degree murder of her husband and was given the death penalty. However, the death penalty was converted into life imprisonment because of documentation errors. She is serving her prison time at the North Carolina Department of Corrections.

Barbara Stager is known as a black widow killer who killed her two husbands to inherit their property and wealth. The person who was happy at the time when the conviction happened was Russ’s first wife. However, she did feel sad for the children who eventually lost both parents.