New Hampshire Man Sentenced For Killing, Forcing Wife To Decapitate Suspected Lover

The man convicted of violently killing his wife’s co-worker will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Armando Barron, 32, was sentenced on Friday to life without the possibility of parole for the 2020 murder of Jonathan Amerault, 25, according to ABC Manchester affiliate WMUR-TV. He was also found guilty of abusing his wife, Britany Barron, and forcing her to aid in Amerault’s grisly murder, which included having her sit with her co-worker's body for several days and forcing her to remove Amerault’s head from his dead body.

The sentencing came one day after a Cheshire County jury took less than two hours to deliberate before rendering their verdict.

“The depravity of your actions and single-handedly causing the pain and suffering and death of Jonathan Amerault show an extreme indifference to the value of human life,” said Judge Elizabeth Leonard at the sentencing hearing. “Your actions were brutal. They were absolutely horrific. They were selfish, and they were completely senseless.”

Armando Barron found messages between his wife and her co-worker, Amerault, on Sept. 19, 2020, leading him to falsely suspect an affair between the two. Throughout that night, Armando Barron beat his wife before using her phone to lure the unsuspecting victim to a Rindge, New Hampshire park, just north of the Massachusetts state border. There, Armando Barron ordered Britany Barron to cut Amerault’s wrists and stand on his neck as Armando viciously beat him.

Armando Barron then placed a gun in his wife's hand, but she refused to shoot her friend, according to her previous testimony.

Amerault was shot in the chest and head before the Barrons took separate cars — Britany Barron with Amerault’s dead body in his car and Armando Barron in the couple’s vehicle — to drive 200 miles north to Errol, New Hampshire.

They arrived at a campsite, where Armando Barron force his wife remove Amerault’s head with a saw in an apparent attempt to make it harder for authorities to identify Amerault’s body. Armando Barron then left his wife with the victim's body for several days — instructing her to bury Amerault separate from his head — until Fish and Wildlife officers discovered Britany Barron and the victim.

Armando and Brittany Barron Photo: New Hampshire State Police

At Friday’s sentencing, Amerault’s mother, Justine Amerault, addressed the court, describing her son as having a “brilliant mind” and a “compassionate heart,” according to WMUR-TV.

“Rest in peace, Jonathan. Your light will never be extinguished. Your light remains with us,” said the mother.

She added that “the last hours of Jonathan’s beautiful life were in the company of this ugly, hideous, demented creature,” adding that the defendant wasn’t even worth her glance.

Amerault’s father, Kenny Amerault, also addressed the court on Friday.

“You are a coward,” he said. “You had to ambush and attack Jon with knives, a machete and guns just to take him down. A wife-beater. Disgusting. Despicable.”

“You mentioned to Jon you have a revolver called ‘the judge,’” Mr. Amerault continued. “Now we have another judge here today who will decide your miserable fortune.”

Armando was found guilty of 13 charges, including first-degree murder, kidnapping and domestic violence in connection with the beating of Britany Barron. Prosecutors previously agreed to drop charges of capital murder.

Britany Barron previously accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to three counts of falsifying evidence.

While the murder conviction itself carries a life sentence, Armando Barron was also sentenced to 45-135 years on the additional charges, per WMUR-TV. The prison sentences are to be served consecutively.

Armando Barron’s defense attorney, Meredith Lugo, indicated her client planned to appeal, the Manchester outlet reported.