Left: Jessie Kirk (Children’s Advocacy Center of Brevard). Right: David Barber (Titusville Police Department).
A man from Florida accused of murder was found to have meticulously handwritten notes spanning 12 pages. The notes outlined his sinister plot to abduct a 72-year-old woman, coerce her into revealing her financial details, and then carry out her murder, according to law enforcement officials.
Authorities uncovered the detailed document during their investigation into the tragic passing of Jessie Kirk in Titusville back in March. David Barber, aged 35, is now confronting a range of serious charges that include first-degree murder, burglary, kidnapping, grand theft auto, and desecration of a corpse.
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Barber, who was formerly in a relationship with Kirk’s niece, purportedly crafted a meticulous plan on a legal notepad. The plan consisted of a step-by-step guide that specified the necessary supplies to procure and the information to extract from the victim once she was in his custody. The supplies mentioned encompassed various items such as a disguise, gloves, gag, tape, bleach, and more. Additionally, he is said to have jotted down a “gather list” featuring tools, cameras, restraints, and firearms among other objects.
There also was a detailed “time line.”
“Finalize plans, clean room,” Barber allegedly wrote. “Pack clothes. Plan route. Print rental agreement.”
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He allegedly wanted to “strike at 5.”
“Park across the street, observe and put on disguise,” the plan reads. “At 5 move across the street and go in.”
Barber allegedly planned to have a gun, duct tape and handcuffs on him when he attacked.
“Get entry info before gagging (garage, gate and door),” the document said. “Find out who will miss her and when.”
Prosecutors allege the document reveals that the motive for the murder was financial gain.
“If possible access finances, request credit line increase, apply for new cards,” Barber allegedly wrote.
Finally: “When leaving after sweeping house after bleaching, place K’s fingerprint on toilet lid.”
The plan mentions “K” a few times but does not give a full name. Barber’s ex-girlfriend — Kirk’s niece — has a name that starts with a K, records show. Barber also allegedly noted to find out from Kirk when she last spoke with her niece and to review their text conversations.
Last week, prosecutors filed their intent to seek the death penalty against Barber.
As Law&Crime previously reported, cops first were alerted something was awry with Kirk around 8:30 a.m. March 4 when she failed to show up for a walk with a friend. Kirk’s niece arrived at her aunt’s apartment complex to help in the search and saw Barber’s car in the parking lot. The niece had previously filed a restraining order against, reportedly saying she felt as if he was going to take “her to an unsafe location and attack or kill me.”
About an hour after Kirk’s reported disappearance, firefighters in nearby Orange County responded to a vehicle fire. Officials confirmed the burned SUV belonged to Kirk. A witness also said she saw a man walking away from the burning vehicle, holding his arm, a probable cause arrest affidavit said.
Then, at around 12:20 p.m. the same day, cops spotted Barber “loitering” across the street from Kirk’s condo complex. He “appeared to be attempting to avoid law enforcement,” the affidavit said. He also had fresh burns on his right arm. After officers confronted him, Barber could not give a valid reason for being in the area. When cops asked why he seemed to be trying to avoid them, he allegedly responded “I don’t feel I should answer that at this time.”
Witnesses and street cameras placed Barber in Kirk’s SUV and cops arrested him for grand theft auto and loitering and prowling.
Officials then received a call around 2:45 p.m. on March 4 — some six hours after Kirk’s reported disappearance — about the discovery of burned human remains. A medical examiner positively identified the body as Kirk. Prosecutors subsequently indicted Barber for murder and other charges.
Kirk was well-respected in her community. She received a “Humanitarian of the Year” from the Navy League and served on the board of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Brevard since 2008.
“Her commitment was to help ensure children overcome the trauma of abuse and move forward on a path of healing and hope toward a brighter future. She was a vibrant, caring, and generous woman,” the center said in a tribute posted to Facebook.
Barber worked as a corrections deputy with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office from 2018 to 2022. Records indicate that he left on his own volition and had no disciplinary history. He was arrested in December for allegedly trying to break into Kirk’s niece’s old apartment, according to records. That case remains ongoing. The alleged restraining order for stalking remains pending, court records show.
