COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Corrections has revealed new details about the missing inmate who didn't return to his transitional center last week following a work shift.
According to the state agency, the inmate should not have been at the Atlanta Transitional Center and should have been back in the state prison system.
Melvin Barkley was convicted on voluntary manslaughter charges on Nov. 9, 2023, where he was given a 30-year prison sentence without the possibility of parole. For that, he would not have been able to be placed at the transitional center. But, according to the Georgia DOC, he had a theft conviction from just eight days earlier -- Nov. 1, 2023 -- with a release date of July 22 of this year, and his placement at the transitional facility was appropriate for that charge.
When he was sentenced for a voluntary manslaughter conviction on Nov. 9, the Georgia Department of Corrections did not receive the paperwork for the new conviction until December 1.
At that time, DOC said, "Barkley should have been removed from the TC (transitional center) and transported back to state prison."
Coweta County District Attorney Herb Cranford told 11Alive he believes "it was a mistake" for Barkley to be at the transitional center due to his sentence
"The GDC is conducting a review to determine if any internal or external breakdowns occurred as it relates to protocols and policy. Should any failures be identified, we will ensure any individual(s) involved will be held accountable," said a spokesperson for the Georgia DOC.
According to DOC, on Feb. 2, Barkley failed to report back to the transitional facility he's been living in on Ponce De Leon Avenue. Transitional center residents are employed in outside jobs in the community but are at the center when not working.
Barkley pleaded guilty to killing Tyler Waters in May 2018, according to a previous release. Barkley and Waters had gotten into an argument during a telephone call and Waters was upset that Barkley and his fiance were living with Waters' great-aunt but not paying the rent. According to the news release, Barkley then invited Waters to come to the location to discuss the issue. When Waters arrived, the two got into a physical fight.
A DA's Office news release said once the fight ended, Waters got into his car and drove away. But Barkley got into his own vehicle with a knife and pursued Waters. When he caught up to Waters' car, Barkley struck the back of the vehicle. Waters then got out of his car and approached Barkley's. They got into another fight where Barkley stabbed Waters and he later died.
Barkley had a negotiated plea agreement and was not convicted of murder. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole, followed by 20 years on probation.
The Georgia Department of Corrections Fugitive Unit is pursuing leads of Barkley's location and actively looking for him.