MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced Wednesday that a Memphis man pleaded guilty to killing a homeowner in 2006 during a burglary inside the victim’s Lakeland house.
Stephen Busby, 28, pleaded guilty as indicted on Wednesday to first degree murder and aggravated burglary. Busby received a sentence of life in prison for the murder and six years for the aggravated burglary. The defendant also pleaded guilty to an unrelated aggravated robbery and multiple aggravated burglaries.
On November 17, 2006, Archie Barkley was found shot to death inside his home located at 4030 Canada Road in Lakeland. The rear door had been forced open and detectives say there were signs of a struggle leading from the bedroom to the front of the house. Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Busby and co-defendant Sara A. Johnson on November 28, 2006. Johnson has been indicted for facilitation to commit first degree murder and multiple unrelated aggravated burglaries. Johnson is scheduled to report to court on August 25.
The charge of first degree murder is covered under the D.A.’s “No Deals” policy on violent crimes. Exceptions are made to the policy for legal and ethical reasons.
Assistant District Attorney Amy Weirich prosecuted this case.
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