Dispute at Winder motel leaves woman terrified, suspect flees

According to the victim, Barnes had been charging his phone in her hotel room. Despite repeated requests to vacate the premises, Barnes adamantly refused. The woman then locked herself in the bathroom to evade Barnes, hoping he would eventually leave. Instead, he responded by began banging on the bathroom door, preventing her from exiting and later physically blocking her path when she attempted to leave the room to tell the motel clerk of the situation.

He eventually moved from blocking the door and she walked to the front lobby to inform the desk clerk about the situation as Barnes was told not the return by motel staff earlier that week.

After leaving the lobby, Barnes approached her outside and got in her face calling her names and cursing at her. While yelling, he said he was “going to bash her head in” and kill her, according to police, who added that when asked if she believed he would kill her, she said she did. Police also reported the victim was visibly trembling and shaking while speaking to her.

Witnesses confirmed hearing Barnes’ aggressive behavior, including the violent threats.

Despite intensive search efforts, including assistance from the Auburn Police Department K9 unit, Barnes could not be located. His sister, also present at the scene, told police he didn’t live anywhere and had been living with her and her family in Auburn for about three months before being asked to leave.

On April 10, Barnes was arrested by the Auburn Police Department and transported to the Barrow County Detention Center, where he remains in custody with a $13,000 bond.

He faces the following charges: False imprisonment (felony); terroristic threats and acts (felony); simple battery-Family Violence (misdemeanor); disorderly conduct (misdemeanor); and criminal trespass (misdemeanor).