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Woman Takes Plea Deal After Husband Allegedly Killed Her Lover
Britany Barron has pleaded guilty to three counts of falsifying evidence after prosecutors say her husband, Armando Barron, brutally murdered Jonathan Amerault.
A New Hampshire woman has agreed to plead guilty regarding the death of her lover after her husband allegedly killed the man and forced her to remove the victim’s head.
Britany Barron, 32, entered a notice of intent to plead guilty to three counts of falsifying evidence, according to court records. The felony charges are in connection to the brutal murder of 25-year-old Jonathan Amerault on Sept. 19, 2020.
Barron’s husband, Armando Barron, allegedly discovered an affair between his wife and the victim after searching through her cellphone, according to Manchester news outlet WMUR 9. Armando Barron then allegedly beat Britany and lured Amerault to a park in the middle of the night. There, Armando is accused of severely beating Amerault.
Britany told police Armando tried to make her shoot Amerault, but she refused, according to an affidavit cited by The Keene Sentinel.
“Britany Barron would not place her finger on the trigger,” the affidavit stated. “When she did not shoot him, Armando removed the gun from her hand.”
Britany told authorities that Armando ordered Amerault into Armando’s vehicle, according to the Sentinel. Inside, Armando ordered Britany to cut Amerault’s wrists, which she did, the woman told authorities.
“During the attack, Armando Barron forced Jonathan into the trunk of his own car, where, a few minutes later, he repeatedly shot Jonathan and killed him,” said Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Agati, according to WMUR.
Amerault was shot twice in the chest and once in the head, according to New Hampshire State Police Sgt. Stephen Sloper in an affidavit cited by the Sentinel. In the affidavit, Britany alleged her husband beat her several times throughout the night.
Armando drove his car and ordered Britany to drive the victim’s vehicle to a wooded area, where he burned Amerault’s personal belongings, authorities said, according to WMUR.
“It was at this second site that Armando Barron told the defendant to cut off Jonathan’s head,” continued Agati.
There, the Barrons set up a campsite.
Britany told authorities that Armando instructed her to remove Amerault’s head to reduce the chances of Amerault being identified via dental records, according to the affidavit cited by the Sentinel. Armando ordered her to bury the head separately from the rest of Amerault’s remains, she said.
Armando allegedly left Britany with the victim and ordered her to dispose of the body, according to the Sentinel.
Several days later, Fish and Game officers visited Britany at the campsite and notified her that she was not permitted to be in the area, according to the Sentinel. After noticing “drag marks in the mud,” they found Amerault’s body.
Police arrested Armando the next day, and he was charged with several felonies, including capital murder and two counts of criminal solicitation of murder, according to The Attorney General’s Office.
Britany was charged with falsifying physical evidence. Her defense claimed she only acted for fear of her life and the life of their 9-year-old daughter.
“This really started with her being beaten severely,” said her defense attorney, Richard Guerriero, according to the Sentinel. "Armando beat her severely and threatened her. He put a gun in her mouth, an obvious threat to kill her.”
On the other hand, prosecutors argued that Britany failed to save Amerault and escape when she had a chance, according to the Union Leader. Amerault saw an opportunity to survive when spotting a machete left by Armando.
“Jonathan pleaded for the defendant to ‘Pick up the machete and kill him [Barron].’ Jonathan told her, ‘Just pick up the machete and kill him,’” Agati stated in a motion cited by the Union Leader. “Britany told Jonathan, ‘You don’t understand, man. I’m not going to kill him with that blow, and we’re both going to die in this car.’”
As part of Friday’s plea agreement, Britany has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in their case against Armando Barron. Furthermore, Britany has agreed to pay Amerault’s funeral costs and costs incurred for counseling services by Amerault’s family members.
As per the plea agreement, she will get credit for time served.
