Photo: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office/Facebook
Her body was found behind his house.
By Sarah Gangraw — Written on Mar 07, 2019
A 33-year-old Collinsville man was charged with capital murder in the death of 11-year-old Amberly Lee Barnett. Christopher Wayne Madison was arrested Saturday following the discovery of the girl's body.
Amberly disappeared from her aunt's home Friday evening. Her aunt, KC Barnett, had left Amberly at home with Madison while she ran to the store and when she returned, the girl was gone. According to her mother, Jonie Barnett, she left her cellphone behind and a dark-colored SUV was seen leaving the driveway that evening. Authorities quickly began a search for the missing girl and located her body early Saturday morning, according to DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden.
“Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers as we move forward during this tragic event," Welden said in a press release.
So who is Christopher Wayne Madison, Amberly's suspected killer?
1. He lives next door to Amberly's aunt.
According to WAFF, Madison was KC Barnett's neighbor. He lived next store to Amberly's aunt with Jesse Crane, who made a Walmart run with KC Barnett Friday evening only to return to find Amberly missing. He was supposedly watching the girl while they were gone.
2. He was originally charged with drug possession.
When Madison was booked, he was charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia; the capital murder charge was added on Monday, according to jail records. He is being held without bond.
If convicted, Madison faces life in prison without parole or the death penalty.
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office
3. He is accused of strangling Amberly to death.
Welden announced at a Monday press conference that Madison is accused of strangling Amberly to death. An initial autopsy report revealed the 11-year-old died of strangulation. No additional information about the case was released.
"Due to the ongoing investigation, and in order not to jeopardize that investigation, I am not at liberty to disclose any additional information concerning this case," he said. “The road to justice for this sweet, innocent little girl is too important to release anything to jeopardize this investigation.”
4. Amberly's body was found behind his house.
Authorities searched overnight for Amberly and found her body around 6:30 a.m. Saturday in a wooded area just 200 yards behind Madison's home, Welden announced in a Monday press release.
Amberly's family members told WAFF that Madison kept returning to the same spot to look for the missing girl.
“He says, ‘Well, I’m going to go back up there and search one more time,’ and he went back up there in the same spot and kept saying nothing’s up here and that’s where they found her body,” John Wayne Barnett said.
5. His motive is unknown.
Authorities have not released a motive. Amberly's family just wants answers.
“All we want to know is why? How can you do this to a little child?” said John Wayne Barnett. It is unclear if the family will ever get closure. All they can hope for is justice for Amberly.
“I hope he just has to sit there in jail and rot,” John Wayne Barnett added.
6. He is engaged.
According to a joint Facebook page under the name "ChrisandKristaMadison," Madison is engaged to a woman named Krista Crane. The pair met in 2013, the page says. Madison has two children, although it is unclear if they are related to Crane.
In a public photo, they can be seen with one child.
Sarah Gangraw writes about all things news, entertainment and crime. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.