WAKE FOREST, N.C. (TCD) — A member of the U.S. National Guard allegedly tried to hire a hit man to avenge his mother’s 2016 car crash death.
In March 2016, Donald Caulder got into a collision near Capital Boulevard and U.S. 1 that killed Rhett Barlow’s mother, Michelle Barlow, the Wake Forest Police Department said in a news release. Caulder was driving a dump truck, failed to slow down, and struck the back of Barlow’s vehicle, killing the high school English teacher, according to WTVD-TV.
Caulder was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and pleaded guilty around 10 months later. WTVD reports a judge gave him a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation.
Rhett Barlow allegedly tried to hire a hit man to kill Caulder on Nov. 28, 2023, and bought an AR-style rifle the same day. According to WTVD, Barlow allegedly requested a transfer to an Army base closer to Caulder.
Police, with the help of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, arrested Barlow on a charge of solicitation for murder on Saturday, Jan. 6. He was booked into the Wake County Detention Center and remains held on $1 million bond.
At the time of his arrest, Barlow was at Fort Liberty for training with the National Guard.
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