Margie Velma Barfield, also known as Velma, was a woman from South Carolina who was born into a poor and abusive family. She was later married to Thomas Burke, with whom she had two children. However, her life took a dark turn when she started abusing painkillers after a hysterectomy and began to experience depression. Her husband Thomas died in a house fire, which was ruled as an accident.
Velma then married Jenning Barfield, who died of heart complications. She was also suspected of killing her mother Lillian, but it was never proven. Velma then started working as a home health nurse, during which time she cared for several elderly couples. However, two of her clients, Montgomery Edwards and his wife Dolly, died under suspicious circumstances.
Velma's luck ran out when she started dating Stewart Taylor, whom she poisoned with arsenic. An autopsy revealed the cause of death, and Velma eventually confessed to the crime. She was arrested and later confessed to poisoning her mother, Dolly, and Montgomery Edwards.
Velma was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. She was executed by lethal injection in 1984 at the age of 52. Before her execution, Velma wrote letters to the families of her victims, apologizing for her actions and asking for forgiveness. However, the families refused to accept her apology.
The host of the video, Bailey Sarian, speculates that Velma may have been responsible for the deaths of all her victims, using arsenic as her preferred method. She also wonders what drove Velma to commit such heinous crimes, suggesting that it may have been a desire for control.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. Bailey Sarian is a true crime storyteller who shares a story every Monday.
2. The story is about Margie Velma Bellard, also known as Velma.
3. Velma was born on October 29, 1932, in South Carolina.
4. Velma grew up in a poor family with eight siblings and an abusive father.
5. Velma's mother, Lillian, never intervened when her father was being abusive.
6. Velma started dating a man named Thomas in high school and got married at 17.
7. Velma had two children, Ronald and Kim, with Thomas.
8. Velma's husband Thomas died in a house fire in 1969.
9. Velma's second husband, Jenning Barfield, died of heart complications in 1971.
10. Velma's home caught fire again in 1974, and she moved in with her parents.
11. Velma's father died a week after she moved in with her parents.
12. Velma started dating a man named Stewart Taylor in 1977.
13. Stewart died of arsenic poisoning in 1977.
14. Velma was arrested and confessed to murdering Stewart.
15. Velma also confessed to poisoning her mother, Lillian, and two elderly people she was caring for, Dolly and John.
16. Velma was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death.
17. Velma was executed by lethal injection on November 2, 1984.
18. Velma was 52 years old at the time of her execution.
19. Velma was the first woman to be executed in the United States since 1962.
20. The families of Velma's victims refused to accept her apology.