Man charged with negligent homicide in death of girlfriend

A Nashville, Ark. man was recently charged with negligent homicide in Pike County for driving intoxicated causing his Jeep to roll over killing his girlfriend.

The negligent homicide charge was filed Nov. 29 against Jeremy Barfield, 34, in Pike County Circuit Clerk’s Office in Murfreesboro.

The charge is a Class C felony with a potential sentence of three to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Barfield had a blood-alcohol content of .19 percent when the accident occurred about 10:30 p.m. Sept. 27 while he was driving a 1973 Jeep CJ-5 on state Highway 27 about 2.3 miles south of Murfreesboro, according to a report filed by Arkansas State Police Trooper 1st Class Chris Harper. The legal limit for blood-alcohol content is .08 in Arkansas.

He lost control of the Jeep near Diamond Park Speedway. Barfield applied the brakes and the vehicle crossed the center line then traveled into the northbound lane.

He attempted to regain control and overcorrected. The vehicle overturned twice, ejecting the driver. The passenger, Barfield’s girlfriend Terah Michelle Mumau, 33, of Nashville, was fatally injured inside the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Pike County Coroner Kenny White.

Barfield was transported to CHRISTUS St. Michael’s Health System in Texarkana, Texas, for medical treatment.

Court documents show he was convicted of a DWI in Glenwood, Ark., in 2010.

No trial date has been schedule.