On November 11, 2013, Troy LaFerrara responds to a Craigslist ad, unaware of the deadly trap set for him. He meets Miranda Barbour in a Pennsylvania mall parking lot, expecting an evening of companionship for a price. They drive to Sunbury, an unassuming small city, with her husband Elytte Barbour concealed under a blanket in the backseat. As the car stops, Miranda signals Elytte, who leaps from hiding, wrapping a cord around LaFerrara’s neck while Miranda stabs him relentlessly, ending his life in a chilling act of violence.
In the days that follow, the Barbours deny any connection to LaFerrara, but detectives trace a crucial phone call from LaFerrara’s phone to Miranda’s. Confronted with evidence, their tales shift from denial to claims of self-defense, finally unraveling into a confession of a thrill killing, premeditated and executed for the sheer experience. The case takes a darker turn as Miranda claims responsibility for over 20 other murders, a statement that ignites a media frenzy but remains unverified.
By September 2014, the courtroom hears their fate: life in prison without parole for both Miranda and Elytte Barbour. The bizarre nature of the crime, coupled with Miranda’s sensational claims, leaves the public grappling with the chilling realities of internet-facilitated crimes and the unsettling possibility of hidden truths. As the couple faces their sentences, the case lingers in public consciousness, a haunting reminder of the darkness that can lurk behind familiar screens.
