Gregory Richard Barker was a former U.S. Army captain and Vietnam veteran who murdered a woman in Prince William County, Virginia, in 1982, robbed three Las Vegas banks in 1983, and spent roughly eight years as a fugitive before an episode of Unsolved Mysteries led to his 1991 capture. He was convicted of the federal bank robberies, pleaded guilty to the Virginia murder, and died in federal prison in 2013.
The 1982 Murder of Hilda Roche
On April 2, 1982, Hilda Roche’s body was found on a path between John F. Pattie Elementary School and nearby homes in the Montclair neighborhood of Prince William County, Virginia. She was lying face up, unclothed except for her shoes, and had been shot once through the head in what investigators described as an execution-style killing.1The Washington Post. Retracing Steps That Led to Killing The scene offered no immediate clue to her killer, and the case sat unsolved for years.
Barker, a former Alexandria, Virginia, resident, eventually surfaced as a suspect. By then he had already left the state.
Fugitive Years and Las Vegas Bank Robberies
While wanted in Virginia, Barker robbed three banks in Las Vegas in 1983. He stayed ahead of law enforcement for about eight years. During that stretch, he was also named as a suspect in the killing of an FBI agent’s daughter in Arizona.2Pissed Off Prosecutor. U.S. v. Gregory Richard Barker — Solved Mystery
Capture After Unsolved Mysteries
Barker’s run ended in 1991, after his case aired on Unsolved Mysteries, the television program that profiled fugitives and cold cases. Viewer response to the broadcast led to his identification and arrest.3The Washington Post. Mysteries Subject Guilty in 82 Slaying
Federal Bank Robbery Conviction
Barker was tried first in federal court in Las Vegas for the three 1983 robberies. Prosecutors faced the challenge of building a case eight years after the fact in a transient city, where tracking down 1983 witnesses was difficult.2Pissed Off Prosecutor. U.S. v. Gregory Richard Barker — Solved Mystery The jury convicted him on all three counts.
Guilty Plea in the Roche Murder
After the federal conviction, Barker was returned to Virginia to face charges for Hilda Roche’s abduction and murder. On May 20, 1992, he pleaded guilty to both charges. Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul B. Ebert handled the state prosecution.3The Washington Post. Mysteries Subject Guilty in 82 Slaying The plea agreement called for 110 years with 50 suspended, leaving 60 years of active state time to be served alongside his federal sentence.
Death in Federal Prison
Barker remained incarcerated for the rest of his life. He died in a federal prison in 2013.2Pissed Off Prosecutor. U.S. v. Gregory Richard Barker — Solved Mystery