Wood Takes Plea Deal for Murder

A Butler County family finally has closure after the woman who shot and killed Steven Faulk pleaded guilty to his murder. Barbara Wood took a plea deal for the December 2012 murder of Faulk in exchange for two of her lesser charges being dropped.

Faulk’s body was found in the front yard of Wood’s family home in December of 2012. He died from an apparent gunshot wound. Wood was arrested and charged with his murder, and was released on bond shortly after arrest. However, Wood never appeared for her court date.

After an investigation, Wood was found in Oklahoma where she was serving time for other criminal charges. She was extradited back to Butler County in 2015. Her court date was set for the second week of June, but District Attorney Charlotte Tesmer says Wood and her attorney came to her office with a plea deal.

Tesmer says the deal was the best possible end for the Faulk family’s tragedy.

“Sometimes when neither side is extremely happy, that’s the right answer,” she says. “Nobody gets everything that they want but they do get some justice and some peace knowing that she will do her time in the penitentiary.”

Wood will serve 25 years at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women. She must also pay all court and restitution costs.