Lured, Killed, Decapitated – A Jealous Husband’s Brutal Crime in the Woods

In a chilling case that unfolded in rural New Hampshire in September 2020 Britany Barron then 33 was found guilty of falsifying physical evidence connected to the brutal murder of her co-worker Jonathan Amerault. The crime involved her husband Armando Barron 32 at the time who became convinced she was having an affair with Amerault after discovering flirtatious messages on her phone. This jealousy-fueled rage led to a violent chain of events that ended in kidnapping, torture shooting, decapitation and attempts to conceal the body.The tragedy began on the night of September 19-20 2020 in Jaffrey New Hampshire where the Barrons lived. Armando reportedly abusive in the marriage confronted Britany over Snapchat exchanges with Amerault a 25-year-old attractive co-worker from Keene. Enraged, Armando allegedly used Britany's phone to lure Amerault to Annett Wayside Park (also known as Annett State Park) in Rindge New Hampshire—a secluded spot just north of the Massachusetts border—under the pretense of meeting her.

Once Amerault arrived, prosecutors said Armando ambushed him, beating and kicking him severely as part of a kidnapping. The assault was prolonged and brutal. Armando then shot Amerault three times, killing him. According to court testimony and evidence presented at trial, Armando forced his wife—whom he had also physically assaulted that night, including choking, punching (breaking her nose), and even placing a gun in her mouth—to participate in the aftermath. He compelled her to decapitate Amerault's body with a saw, bury the head separately, and cover the torso with a tarp at a remote campsite. The gruesome dismemberment and concealment efforts were intended to hinder any investigation.

Britany Barron later testified during her husband's trial that she did not shoot Amerault and portrayed herself as a victim of domestic violence and coercion. She described being terrorized throughout the ordeal, with Armando threatening her life and forcing her compliance. Authorities discovered the scene when New Hampshire Fish and Game officers found Britany alone at the unauthorized campsite in a swampy area, leading to the recovery of the decapitated body and head.

Initially arrested in September 2020, Britany faced three counts of falsifying physical evidence for her role in altering, destroying, concealing, or removing items related to the crime. She pleaded guilty to these felony charges in the fall of 2021. In October 2021, she was sentenced to 3.5 to 7 years in prison, though she was released on parole after serving part of her term. As part of her plea, she agreed to testify against her husband.

Armando Barron's trial took place in 2022 in Cheshire County Superior Court. He faced charges including first-degree murder, capital murder (involving kidnapping), assault, and solicitation of murder. Britany took the stand, detailing the abuse and denying she fired the fatal shots, while prosecutors argued Armando was the primary perpetrator who orchestrated the killing and coerced her involvement. A jury convicted Armando of first-degree murder and related offenses. In May 2022, he received a life sentence without parole for the murder, plus an additional 45 years (with some reports noting up to 45-130 years total across charges) for crimes like kidnapping, assault, and solicitation.

The case highlighted themes of domestic violence, jealousy, and coercion. Britany's testimony portrayed a pattern of abuse in the marriage, and she positioned her actions as compelled under duress. However, her guilty plea on the evidence-tampering charges reflected her active role in the cover-up, even if forced.

Armando appealed his conviction, arguing issues like jury instructions, a juror's understanding of the law, and handling of evidence related to Britany's initial statements to police. In April 2025, the New Hampshire Supreme Court rejected the appeal, upholding his life sentence and ensuring he remains imprisoned.This harrowing incident shocked the small communities of Jaffrey, Keene, and Rindge, drawing national attention for its extreme violence—including the beheading—and the complex dynamics of abuse and complicity. It serves as a stark reminder of how unchecked jealousy and domestic violence can escalate into unimaginable horror, leaving a family devastated and a young man dead in a remote park.

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