By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Jim Barton

SPRINGBORO - A police lieutenant "was and remains a suspect" in the 1995 slaying of his wife - and investigators believe he wiped away fingerprints and other crime-scene evidence, according to an investigative summary obtained by the Enquirer Thursday.

Lt. Thomas James Barton called the Warren County 911 center April 11, 1995, and reported he had arrived at his farmhouse in Franklin Township and found his wife, Vickie, 40, shot to death. He said her clothing had been removed, her body felt cold and a pillow was over her head.

During that call, Barton repeatedly walked away from the phone, saying he was going to ensure no perpetrators remained on the premises. Meanwhile, the tape-recording captured "shuffling, sliding and rattling noises" - sounds of an alleged cover-up, the summary says.

"The crime scene was wiped down and/or altered before the arrival of deputies responding to (that) 911 call," the document says. "Lt. Jim Barton was the only person at the residence during the 911 call. From this fact and the background sounds on the 911 call, it is logical to conclude Lt. Jim Barton tampered with the crime scene."

The summary also said some experts believe aspects of the crime scene were "staged." At one point on the 911 tape, Barton says, "Oh, man. I got to call Phelp, man."

Investigators say Barton was referring to Will Phelps, a Middletown man who committed suicide four months after Vickie Barton's slaying - after he told several people he was involved in the crime.

Barton has denied knowing Phelps or tampering with the crime scene, the document says.

His lawyer, John H. Rion, said investigators are "forcing a conclusion" about sounds on the tape.

He said his client is using the word, "help," not "Phelp," on the tape.

So far, no one has been charged in the killing.

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com