A Waterloo man will find out today if a judge has found him guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend. Forty-year-old Tonnie Barrett is accused of killing 28-year-old Marie Ferrell of Oelwein on or about May 21st of last year. Ferrell was apparently killed in Oelwein, and her body was transported to Waterloo where it was found in a shallow grave at the former Rath Packing plant site.
During the proceedings leading up to the trial, a motion by the defense to have Barrett declared incompetent to stand trial was denied, as well as a motion to suppress evidence. Barrett elected to waive a jury trial and have his case presented to the court on March 27th. The judge will read the verdict at 1:45 today at the Fayette County Courthouse in West Union.