The woman found dead near the Flint River In Michigan on March 4, 2024, worked with her alleged killer at a Genesee County Burger King restaurant, police revealed.
Christina Elizabeth Barber, a 48-year-old woman from Flint, was found dead in a garbage bag, her body partially concealed in the bag, with only her toes visible. A fisherman made the gruesome discovery on Monday, sparking an intense police investigation.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton disclosed the details of the case during a press conference, outlining the sequence of events that led to the discovery of Barber’s body and the subsequent arrest of her boyfriend, Christopher Astin Motry, 34, also from Flint.
Barber, reported missing after failing to respond to calls and being absent from work for a week, was last seen by her colleagues who expressed concern for her welfare. The investigation escalated following a welfare check requested by a co-worker on March 2.
The following day, Flint City Police uncovered alarming evidence at the Flint Motel, where Barber and Motry were believed to have stayed. Inside a room rented under Barber’s name, officers found several items soaked in blood, including a comforter, mattress, and sheets, alongside cat litter scattered across the floor, believed to mask the smell of blood.
Security footage from the motel provided investigators with a timeline of events, showing Barber and Motry entering the room on February 28. The following evening, Motry exited the room carrying a heavy plastic bag in a manner suggesting it contained Barber’s body, which he then placed in his truck. This footage became a crucial piece of evidence in linking Motry to Barber’s death.
Motry faces several charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, domestic violence, tampering with evidence, and concealing a death. Online court records confirm these charges and indicate that Motry, married to another woman, has been detained without bond and has been assigned a public defender. His wife is cooperating with investigators.
Investigators noted that Barber’s interactions with the suspect had been fraught with conflict. Their relationship was marked by instability, and he had made threats to Barber’s life on several occasions.
The suspect’s aggressive behavior had previously manifested at work, including an incident where, in a fit of rage, he damaged the car of a manager, Leyton said.
Barber, an unmarried mother of seven adult children, was attempting to extricate herself from this volatile relationship, according to statements made by Leyton.
In support of the family during this difficult time, Barber’s daughter has established a GoFundMe page to cover funeral expenses.