The Case of Philip “Buckie” Barlow
The complete account of a truck driver found deceased in a creek after being reported missing in 2019 has surfaced as part of a true crime documentary series.
Disappearance Reported
Philip “Buckie” Barlow, a 61-year-old truck driver, was reported missing by his long-time girlfriend, Mary, when he failed to arrive at his job at Hillside Trucking at 1 a.m. on May 29, 2019, in Tunnelton, West Virginia. According to a Facebook post by Hillside Trucking, “Philip spoke with his girlfriend before heading to work around 11:30 p.m. He was packing his gear and filling his water jug. He typically arrives at work between 12:15 a.m. and 12:45 a.m., often leaving early to be the first truck. However, he didn’t show up for his shift.” Surveillance footage showed Barlow’s pickup being pursued by a white pickup truck.
The Discovery
At about 7 a.m. that morning, Barlow’s burning pickup truck was found, but he remained missing until his body was discovered in a creek bed by hunters on June 8. Retired Preston County Sheriff’s Captain Travis Tichnell recounted, “When we arrived at the scene, we found the body moderately decomposed, face down in the water, without a shirt. His jeans were around his ankles, and his throat had a severe injury, with multiple critical parts severed.”
Investigating the Crime
Perry County prosecutor Megan Fields characterized Barlow’s injuries as extremely brutal, indicating that he was effectively decapitated. Mary, who had recently moved to Indiana in anticipation of Barlow’s retirement, expressed her devastation upon learning of his death.
Uncovering the Truth
As investigators questioned Barlow’s neighbors and individuals close to the crime scene, inconsistencies in statements from a couple prompted deeper investigation. “Initially, nothing seemed off during my conversation with Mr. Quinn and Ms. Martin,” Captain Tichnell noted. Upon reviewing their interviews, Tichnell found it curious that they had noted the noise from their air conditioning masking outside sounds. This detail led him to revisit the couple for further questioning, but they had already been jailed in Maryland for unrelated crimes.
The Confession
While reviewing phone calls made by the couple, Tichnell discovered that Martin had engaged in explicit conversations with an ex-boyfriend instead of Quinn. This information helped lead Quinn to confess to the murder out of spite towards Martin. Interrogations then revealed their conflicting accounts of the events leading up to Barlow’s death, ultimately indicating a shared responsibility for the crime.
Sentencing after Guilty Pleas
Initially, the couple sought to rob Barlow for money to pay their electricity bill, but the situation escalated when Barlow recognized them. After committing the murder, disturbing details emerged from Martin’s conversations with fellow inmates, including her chilling recollections regarding the incident. Both Laura Lynn Martin and Robert Joseph “Bobby” Quinn pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and robbery in October 2022. Each received a life sentence, with Martin eligible for parole in 2081 and Quinn in 2080, according to WV News.
