Account
Dec 12, 2008
Jun 02, 2020
Katherine
Worsky
54
12
58 inches
90 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
In the summer of 1982, a heart-wrenching story began to unfold in Charlottesville, Virginia, with the disappearance of 12-year-old Katherine Sybil Worsky, affectionately known as Katie. On July 11th, her father dropped her off for a sleepover at the home of her close friend on McElroy Drive. The following morning, July 12, Katie was discovered to be missing from the residence. A search of the home revealed that her personal belongings, including her shoes and, crucially, her insulin, were left behind, a significant detail as Katie was a Type 1 diabetic who depended on daily injections. The initial hope that she may have simply walked home was quickly extinguished, and her parents reported her missing to the police, sparking an intensive search effort that involved law enforcement, helicopters, and search dogs. The investigation almost immediately focused on Glenn Haslam Barker, a 23-year-old convenience store clerk who had previously dated the mother of Katie's friend. Barker had a criminal record, including a prior conviction for kidnapping and assault. During questioning, Barker admitted to visiting the girls at the sleepover and providing them with beer. He claimed to have left after they had fallen asleep. However, a search of his apartment uncovered disturbing evidence, including wet, bloodstained clothing and towels hidden between his mattress and box spring. Forensic testing revealed the presence of two blood types: Type A, which matched Barker's, and Type B, which was consistent with Katie's. Investigators also found a pair of girl's underwear in his closet with a small bloodstain in the location where Katie would have administered her insulin shots. Despite the absence of a body, Glenn Barker was arrested and charged with Katherine's murder in January 1983. The prosecution built a circumstantial case, arguing that Barker had sexually assaulted and then killed the young girl. In a landmark case for the state of Virginia, Barker was convicted of second-degree murder, becoming only the second person in the state's history to be found guilty of murder without the victim's body being recovered. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison but was released on parole in 1992 after serving nine years. Barker consistently maintained his innocence, claiming the evidence was planted by police. He was later considered a suspect in other crimes after his release. Over the years, rumors and theories about the location of Katherine's remains have surfaced, including the unfounded speculation that she was buried under a restaurant, but extensive searches have yielded no results. The case of Katherine Worsky is a somber tale of a young life cut short and a family left without answers, as her body has never been found. Glenn Barker passed away from natural causes in 2014, taking any secrets he held about Katherine's final moments with him.
Jul 12, 1982
Charlottesville
Virginia
Albemarle County
No
25616
Charlottesville Police Departement
Charlottesville
Virginia
Charlottesville City
22902
606 E. Market St, Virginia
4349703280
Local
Law Enforcement
http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/police-department/contact-us
198200730
Albemarle County Sheriff's Office
4085
Blond/Strawberry
Hazel
Hazel
06/21/2026
