The ‘Avenging Angel’ of New Hampshire: The Disturbing Crimes of Sheila LaBarre”
On June 20, 2008, a jury delivered a chilling verdict: Sheila LaBarre was fully aware of her actions when she brutally murdered two men on her secluded New Hampshire farm. Despite her desperate claims that she was an “avenging angel” sent by God to punish pedophiles, the jury saw through her twisted delusions.
LaBarre had lured Michael Deloge and Kenneth Countie to her 115-acre property in Epping, subjecting them to horrific torture before killing them in 2005 and 2006, respectively. When authorities unearthed human remains on her farm, the true horror of her crimes became undeniable.
A Dark Past: The Making of a Killer
At trial, psychiatrist Dr. Roger Gray painted a grim picture of LaBarre’s upbringing, calling it a childhood “populated with people who could use her however they wanted and wouldn’t protect her.” According to true crime author Michael Benson, who chronicled her life in The Burn Farm, LaBarre was sexually and emotionally abused by her father and his associates—claims that were corroborated by her older sister.
Born in Alabama in 1958, LaBarre seemed destined for turmoil. She cycled through multiple failed marriages and was institutionalized in the early 1980s following a suicide attempt. Even then, her violent mood swings hinted at something far more sinister lurking beneath the surface.
In 1987, LaBarre moved to New Hampshire after answering a personal ad from local chiropractor Wilfred “Bill” LaBarre. Though they never married, she took his last name and, after his death in 2000, claimed his estate—sparking bitter disputes with his children.
A Mission from God—or Madness?
LaBarre often spoke of a near-death experience in which she claimed to have met God. According to her, He assigned her a divine mission: to rid the world of pedophiles. This twisted belief would soon manifest into real-world horror.
She brought men into her home under the guise of love, only to turn on them with savage brutality. Her victims endured unimaginable torment—both physically and mentally—before meeting their gruesome fates. One of the most disturbing details? LaBarre recorded her torture sessions, forcing her victims to confess to crimes they likely never committed.
The Gruesome End: Flames, Bones, and a Suspicious Walmart Visit
Shortly before Kenneth Countie’s death, concerned bystanders spotted him in a Walmart—bruised, burned, and eerily silent in a wheelchair beside LaBarre. Days later, she called Epping police and played an audio recording of Countie “confessing” to being a pedophile.
Authorities conducted a welfare check at her farm, where they discovered a smoldering burn pile containing human bone fragments and a pair of sneakers. But when they left to obtain a search warrant, LaBarre used the time to destroy more evidence.
When investigators returned, they found an incinerated mattress, traces of blood splatter, and more human remains scattered across her property. The scale of her depravity was becoming horrifyingly clear.
The Trial: Insanity Plea Rejected
LaBarre’s defense team argued that she suffered from severe mental illness and could not distinguish right from wrong. But the jury wasn’t convinced. Despite accounts of her erratic behavior—including attacking an ex-boyfriend with a hatchet and forcing others into car trunks—the jurors feared she remained too dangerous to be set free.
She was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
A Serial Killer in Disguise?
While LaBarre was convicted of two murders, investigators have long suspected that she may have killed others. During their search, they found three human toes on her property—none of which belonged to Deloge or Countie. To this day, the identity of the third victim remains a mystery.
She has also been accused of murdering Bill LaBarre, though she denies any involvement.
Where Is Sheila LaBarre Now?
Today, Sheila LaBarre spends her days behind bars at the New Hampshire Correctional Facility for Women. But the question lingers: Were there more victims? Did more men fall prey to the so-called “Avenging Angel” before law enforcement finally put an end to her reign of terror?
For now, the world can only wonder what other secrets remain buried beneath the soil of the infamous LaBarre farm.
