Summary of Offense:
Barry and Gail Barlow awoke to the sound of two gunshots in the early morning hours of March 19, 1986. Upon investigating the source of the shots, they found 17-year-old Pauline Cowell, Gail’s sister, dead in the Florida room of their home. Tammy Bird, a friend of Cowell’s, had been shot as well, but she survived. The padlock, which secured the room from the outside, was missing and the door was discovered open. Authorities identified Brown as a possible suspect and began searching for him. Sheriff’s deputies found Brown in the trailer park where his brother lived, hiding behind a shed. A handgun was found in Brown’s pants, which matched the gun used in the shootings of Cowell and Bird.
Brown was living with Cowell’s mother at the time of the murder and Cowell had only recently moved from her mother’s to her sister’s home. Upon questioning, Brown indicated that he broke into the Barlow residence to confront Cowell about some lies she was telling. He stated that did not plot to kill Cowell, but planned on shooting her if she began to scream.
Brown was sentenced to death in Hillsborough County on March 2, 1987.
Bookmarks