Prosecutors: Raleigh man bought multiple guns in murder-for-hire plot to avenge mother's death in crash

During a Monday court appearance, prosecutors said Rhett Michael Barlow bought guns and tried to position himself closer to the man he wanted dead.

Posted 7:07 p.m. Jan 6 — Updated 3:44 p.m. Jan 9

Matt Talhelm

, WRAL reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — A Raleigh man was arrested on Saturday morning after police say he tried to have a man killed – a man who was involved in a wreck that killed the suspect's mother back in 2016.

Wake Forest Police arrested Rhett Michael Barlow for allegedly asking someone to kill a man named Donald Caulder, Jr.

Nearly eight years ago, Caulder was driving a dump truck along Capital Blvd. when he crashed into Barlow's mother, a high school teacher named Michelle Barlow.

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During a Monday court appearance, prosecutors said Barlow bought guns and tried to position himself closer to the man he wanted dead.

A prosecutor said Barlow purchased an AR-15 Springfield Rifle and another gun at Carolina Gun Runners in Raleigh. Prosecutors also said Barlow, now 22, even took drastic steps to be closer to Caulder, requesting a transfer of his National Guard duty.

Caulder was driving dump truck filled with logs and towing a Bobcat when he rear-ended Michelle's minivan. The dump truck pushed the van into the back of a tractor-trailer, crushing it and killing Barlow, an English teacher at Wake Forest High School.

Authorities said they believed driver fatigue or distraction contributed the crash. Caulder, 29, was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and failure to reduce speed.

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Investigators with the State Highway Patrol said there was no evidence at the scene that Caulder tried to brake or swerve to avoid the crash. Authorities said Caulder has a history of eight driving-related violations since 2008.

Michelle Barlow's family, including Rhett Barlow.

At the memorial service for Michelle Barlow, her two children, including Rhett, could be seen grieving her death. Her husband said he forgave Caulder. A photo showed Michelle with her family.

After being arrested, Rhett Barlow was transported to the Wake County Detention Center and is being held under a $1 million secured bond.

The investigation into this incident continues.

Prosecutors said the man who Barlow allegedly asked to help in the plot will not face charges, because he came forward to report it to police. Barlow's father and sister sat in the courtroom and quickly left before WRAL News could talk with them.

The North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) confirmed that Barlow is a member of the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, based out of Charlotte, and has been a traditional guardsman with the NCNG since 2019.

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