Newton Man Charged With Concealing A Death…Updated

35-year-old Richard Jerome Barber of Springdale Drive in Newton was arrested Wednesday by Catawba County Sheriff’s Deputies. He’s charged with concealing or failing to report a death. Barber was incarcerated in the Catawba County Detention Facility under $60,000 bond. A District Court appearance was scheduled today (February 6).

Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY

Update: According to information just released by the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, Barber is charged with hiding the death of 42-year-old Crystal Lynn Carroll Willard. Willard’s body was discovered at Barber’s home at 2423 Springdale Drive on Sunday, February 2nd. Willard’s body appeared to have been in the home for several days.

The cause of Willard’s death is still undetermined as the sheriff’s office awaits the results of an autopsy.