Wake Forest, North Carolina – A member of the National Guard, Rhett Michael Barlow, was arrested for attempting to hire a hitman and purchasing multiple guns in a plot to avenge his mother’s death. The incident, which occurred almost eight years after the fatal crash that claimed his mother’s life, has shocked the community. Barlow, who is only 22 years old, was taken into custody at Fort Liberty on Jan. 6 and charged with soliciting to commit first-degree murder.
Barlow allegedly tried to hire a hitman on Nov. 28, 2023, to kill Donald Caulder, Jr., the man responsible for the fatal crash that claimed his mother’s life, according to an arrest warrant. He also purchased an AR-15 Springfield Rifle and a second firearm on the same day that he attempted to hire the hitman. Prosecutors revealed this information on Monday, adding more depth to the shocking plot.
The fatal crash involving Caulder, who was driving a dump truck, and Barlow’s mother, Michelle, occurred on March 22, 2016, along Capital Boulevard/US 1 in Wake Forest. Caulder was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and later pleaded guilty to the charge. Following his guilty plea, he received a suspended sentence and 12 months probation. Investigations indicated that driver fatigue or distraction might have caused the fatal crash.
Barlow, who is a member of the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, has been a guardsman since 2019. He tried to obtain a transfer with the Army to a post closer to Caulder, showing the depth of his determination to avenge his mother’s death.
He was taken into custody by the US Army Criminal Investigation Division, and subsequently handed over to the Wake Forest police. Barlow is currently at the Wake County Detention Center on a $1 million bond and is scheduled for a disposition hearing on Jan. 29. The man whom Barlow tried to hire as a hitman will not face charges as he reported Barlow’s intent to the police.
The shocking incident serves as a reminder of the profound impact that loss and grief can have on individuals, raising important questions about mental health and the support systems in place for those who are dealing with the aftermath of tragic events.