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In the peaceful town of Centerville, Iowa, a mysterious fire broke out on the morning of May 5, 2018, leading to tragedy.
What initially seemed like a heartbreaking accident quickly turned into a chilling murder investigation.
Firefighters discovered 50-year-old Timothy Pasa lifeless in his bed, as flames engulfed his Centerville home.
However, it wasn’t the fire that claimed his life.
This story of deception, financial turmoil, and betrayal culminated in the conviction of his wife, Barbara Pasa, for his murder.
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| Barbara and Timothy Pasa |
Behind Closed Doors: The Perfect Couple or a Marriage in Turmoil?
Barbara and Timothy Pasa appeared to be the picture-perfect couple.
They met in 1999 at one of Tim's country band concerts and quickly became inseparable.
Born and raised in the same small town of Centerville, the two seemed destined to build a life together.
They had two children and lived in a beautiful home that Barbara took pride in showcasing on social media.
“She always had pictures on Facebook. It seemed to be a well-rounded family,” shared Sonja Carson, a former friend of Barbara.
To outsiders, their lives were filled with love, laughter, and family gatherings.
However, appearances can be deceiving.
Behind the facade of a happy family, there was trouble brewing.
Friends and neighbors had no idea that the couple's home was plagued by financial struggles and marital troubles
Barbara was deeply concerned with maintaining a picture-perfect image.
She often overspent on luxury items to impress those around her.
The reality was far from what her Facebook posts suggested.
The Pasa family was drowning in debt, their home on the brink of foreclosure, and divorce seemed inevitable.
Two weeks before Timothy’s death, Barbara made a chilling confession to friends while out one evening.
“She talked about a pending divorce and said that she hated him,” Carson recalled.
“She said it with a lot of emotion. And that if she wanted to get rid of someone, she knew she could.”
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| Timothy Pasa |
A Fatal Fire: The Death of Timothy Pasa
On that fateful morning, a neighbor noticed thick black smoke billowing from the Pasa residence and called emergency services around 7:30 a.m.
Firefighters arrived swiftly.
However, by the time they extinguished the blaze, they found Timothy’s body lying on the bed in the master bedroom.
His death was initially thought to be caused by the fire, but several suspicious details caught the attention of the responders.
First, they found that both smoke detectors in the house had been disabled, and a candle lay oddly on the floor beside the bed.
“These were red flags,” noted Vern Milburn, Centerville Fire Rescue Assistant Chief.
Despite the raging fire, Timothy appeared to have made no effort to escape — he was found lying still, as if he had been asleep the entire time.
Barbara, who claimed to be at a soccer game with her children, was notified of her husband's death.
Witnesses noted her reaction was oddly emotionless.
“She was very stoic,” Carson noted.
Barbara’s explanation for the disabled smoke detectors was that they had gone off earlier while she was baking, so she had asked Timothy to remove the batteries.
She claimed that the candle in the bedroom was to mask the smell of dog urine.
However, her story started to unravel when the autopsy report came in.
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| The Pasa residence |
From Accident to Murder: Uncovering the Truth
The medical examiner’s report turned the case on its head.
Despite the heavy smoke from the fire, Timothy’s lungs were completely clear — he had not inhaled any smoke.
This critical detail confirmed that Timothy was already dead when the fire started.
The cause of death was later identified as a lethal dose of propofol, a powerful anesthetic often used in surgical procedures.
The discovery was a breakthrough, especially since Barbara was a surgical nurse with access to this controlled substance.
Friends and neighbors began to recall odd behaviors from Barbara leading up to the incident.
She had recently increased Timothy’s life insurance policy from $50,000 to $200,000.
She had also raised their homeowner’s insurance coverage, all within months before his death.
These actions, combined with their dire financial situation, suggested a possible motive.
Further investigation revealed that Timothy had confided in family members about his growing fears that Barbara was poisoning him.
He had become suspicious of her motives, particularly after noticing changes in his health.
The Search for Justice: A Trial That Shocked the Community
Barbara Pasa was arrested on May 18, 2018, on charges of first-degree murder and arson.
The case faced delays as Barbara struggled to find legal representation; several attorneys withdrew from the case, citing conflicts or lack of time.
Eventually, the Special Defense Unit of the Burlington Public Defender’s Office took over her defense.
During the trial, Barbara took the stand in her defense, maintaining her innocence.
However, her testimony failed to convince the jury.
Prosecutors painted a picture of a woman driven by greed and desperation, unwilling to face the shame of a divorce and financial ruin.
“The tears that she was giving — all phony,” said Rich Parker, a friend of Tim.
“If she was as smart as she thought, she would have ensured that Tim had smoke in his lungs. She didn’t think that part out.”
After just three hours of deliberation, the jury returned with a guilty verdict for both first-degree murder and arson.
On November 15, 2019, Barbara was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 20 years for arson.
The harsh sentence reflected the calculated nature of her crimes.
A Family Torn Apart: The Aftermath of the Tragedy
Barbara’s conviction left her children without both parents — their father dead and their mother imprisoned for life.
The children are now in the care of extended family, trying to rebuild their lives amidst the shadow of their mother’s actions.
“This case is just a very, very sad ordeal,” Vern Milburn reflected.
“These children lost both parents in one tragic event, and it’s something they’ll carry with them forever.”
The town of Centerville remains haunted by the tragedy, a stark reminder that even in the most picturesque families, darkness can lurk beneath the surface.
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