The Chilling Case of David Homer Edenfield

David Homer Edenfield mugshot

David Homer Edenfield sits on Georgia’s death row for one of the most horrifying crimes in the state’s history. In 2007, he, along with his wife Peggy and son George, was convicted of the brutal assault and murder of six-year-old Christopher Michael Barrios Jr. The case shocked the nation due to its sheer brutality, leading to Edenfield’s death sentence in 2009.

The Abduction of Christopher Barrios Jr.

On March 8, 2007, Christopher Barrios Jr. was playing outside near his home in Brunswick, Georgia, when he was lured by George Edenfield into the trailer he shared with his parents, David and Peggy Edenfield. The boy was familiar with the Edenfields, as they lived in the same mobile home park. However, he had no idea he was walking into a nightmare.

Once inside, Christopher was subjected to unimaginable abuse at the hands of both George and David Edenfield. Peggy Edenfield did nothing to stop it—instead, she watched and participated in the horrific crime. When Christopher threatened to tell his family, David Edenfield strangled him to death.

After killing the child, the Edenfields continued their depraved behavior before calling a friend to help dispose of the body. A week later, Christopher’s remains were discovered in garbage bags in a wooded area near his home. The community, devastated by the loss of such a young life, demanded justice.

Arrests and Court Proceedings

The investigation quickly led authorities to the Edenfield family. David, George, and Peggy were all arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder. A fourth person, Donald Dale, was also arrested for helping conceal the body but later pleaded guilty to lying to the police.

Peggy Edenfield agreed to testify against her husband and son in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. She was sentenced to 60 years in prison. Her testimony was instrumental in securing David Edenfield’s conviction.

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David Edenfield’s trial began on September 29, 2009. The prosecution presented a taped confession in which he admitted to the crimes in disturbing detail. Medical examiner Dr. Jamie Downs testified about the severe trauma inflicted on Christopher, further strengthening the case against Edenfield.

On October 5, 2009, the jury deliberated for just two hours before finding David Edenfield guilty on all counts. The next day, he was sentenced to death.

George Edenfield’s Competency Issues

George Edenfield was also charged in the case, but his trial was delayed due to questions about his mental competency. In 2010, a judge ruled him mentally incompetent to stand trial, and he was committed to a state mental hospital for further evaluation. To this day, he remains in a psychiatric facility, with no clear timeline for when—if ever—he will face justice in a courtroom.

A Family With a Dark Past

Shockingly, this was not the first time the Edenfields had been involved in crimes against children.

  • In 1994, David Edenfield was charged with incest involving his own daughter. He pleaded guilty and received ten years of probation.
  • George Edenfield was convicted of child molestation in 1997 and was placed on probation. In 2006, he violated his probation by living too close to a park. Days before Christopher’s murder, he was ordered to move but was allowed to remain free.

This case exposed serious flaws in the sex offender monitoring system. Despite their history of child abuse, David and George Edenfield were living freely in a neighborhood full of children.

The Lasting Impact of the Case

The murder of Christopher Barrios Jr. left a lasting impact on Georgia’s legal system. Many people called for stricter sex offender laws and better enforcement of existing ones. The case also highlighted the need for more stringent protections for children living near convicted offenders.

As of 2023, David Edenfield remains on Georgia’s death row, awaiting execution. However, due to the slow pace of the death penalty process, he has yet to receive an execution date.

Christopher’s family continues to keep his memory alive, fighting for justice and advocating for stronger laws to protect children from predators.

Final Thoughts

The murder of Christopher Barrios Jr. is a heartbreaking example of a system failing to protect the most vulnerable. The Edenfield family had a long history of sexual abuse, yet they were able to commit one of the most disturbing crimes imaginable. It’s disgusting and happens far too often!

While David Edenfield’s death sentence may bring some sense of justice, it will never erase the pain caused by his actions. Christopher should have grown up to live a happy and full life, but instead, he became the victim of pure evil.

His story is a reminder of the importance of vigilance when it comes to protecting children—and the devastating consequences of failing to do so.

Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.

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