National Guard Soldier Charged After Plotting Murder of Man Who Killed His Mom in Car Crash: Police
Mar. 15, 2025Rhett Michael Barlow.Photo:Wake Forest Police Department
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Wake Forest Police Department
A National Guard soldier in North Carolina was arrested and charged after allegedly plotting to kill a man who was involved in a fatal car crash with his mother, according to state authorities.
Officials in Wake Forest, N.C., announced in apress releaseon Saturday that Rhett Michael Barlow was taken into custody on a charge of solicitation to commit first-degree murder after police say he attempted to hire a man to kill Donald Caulder, Jr.
Per reports, authorities believed driver fatigue or distraction may have contributed to the crash. There wasn’t any evidence that Caulder tried to break or swerve his car to avoid crashing into the minivan, according to WRAL.
Rhett Michael Barlow.Wake Forest Police Department
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Additionally, during his court appearance on Monday, prosecutors alleged that Barlow initiated a transfer request with the Army to move closer to Caulder. He also purchased an AR-15 rifle on the same day he attempted to hire the hitman, according to prosecutors.
Wake Forest authorities said Barlow was transported to the Wake County Detention Center after his arrest where he was held under a $1 million secured bond. Police told WRAL that the man who Barlow attempted to hire to carry out the hit will not face charges because he reported it to the police.
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The Wake Forest Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on the incident, but noted in the town’s release that the incident is still being investigated.
The North Carolina National Guard confirmed to WRAL that Barlow had joined its ranks in 2019, and was a member of the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, which is based out of Charlotte, N.C.
source: people.com
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