3 Of 4 Charged In South Franklin Killing Take Plea Deals

Three people charged in connection with the murder of an 18-year-old girl in South Franklin Township are heading to jail. Annalaya Wilkerson’s mom says her daughter thought she was going to a party the night she was murdered. Monday, 3 of the 4 charged in the 18-year-old’s death took a plea deal, but Annalaya’s mother Billie Jo Dawson says she still doesn’t know why it happened “It’s not enough time, I feel like they should’ve got a lot more time; life. I mean, they took her life, it’s not fair”. State Police say Wilkerson and a 17-year-old girl were shot along Jolly School Road back in April of 2024. Police say the girls were both shot when they got out of the car. The 17-year-old was shot in the chest and survived. Wilkerson was found dead in the middle of the road. Windale “Winnie” Barfield Junior will serve 22-44 years and his brother Anthony Barfield will serve 15-30 years in a state prison as part of the plea deal. Jeheili Cochran, who is a relative of the Barfield’s also took a plea deal for tampering with evidence after reportedly getting rid of the murder weapon. “They’re still not taking accountability. I still don’t know why. I still don’t know what really happened. I’ll never know because they got to take a plea deal,” Dawson said. Another man, Karon Whitlock, was also charged, but the DA says his case will be dealt with separately because he’s been cooperating.