FLINT, MI — Christopher Astin Motry, a 34-year-old man from Michigan, has been charged with the murder of Christina Elizabeth Barber, a mother of seven, whose body was found in a disturbing state along the bank of the Flint River. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton announced the charges, including first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, concealing the death of an individual, and domestic violence, during a press conference.
The grim discovery was made on March 4 when a fisherman stumbled upon Barber’s remains in a trash bag, partially exposed, prompting an immediate police investigation. The investigation led back to the Flint Motel, where Barber had been staying. Police found the room stained with blood on the comforter, sheets, mattress, a wall, and the floor, indicating a violent struggle.
Colleagues of Barber at Burger King, where she worked alongside Motry, had raised alarms after she failed to show up for work for a week and did not respond to calls, prompting a welfare check. The motel’s surveillance footage from February 28 showed the couple arriving and entering room 18, with only Motry leaving the following night carrying a heavy bag, believed to contain Barber’s body, which he later disposed of along the Flint River.
The investigation revealed a tumultuous relationship between Barber and Motry, with multiple threats to Barber’s life previously reported. The case continues to unfold as authorities piece together the events leading to Barber’s tragic death.