The YouTube channel Explore With Us delves into the chilling crime, detailing how Cohee decapitated, dismembered, and mutilated Barnes’ body in their true crime video ‘Parents Discover Teen Son’s Horrifying Secret’.
Cohee’s mother, Terri, stumbled upon Barnes’ head and hands, decomposing inside a plastic bag, hidden in the wardrobe.
The 19-year-old at the time intended to dispose of the remaining body parts in the Colorado River. However, his plan was thwarted when his parents called 911.
Police body cam footage captures the moment officers arrived at Cohee’s home, posing the question: “Your parents have raised concerns about some items they may have found in your room. Can you elaborate?”
“Yes, I believe so. A human head and hands, from that man who went missing. I killed him with a knife,” Cohee confessed.
When questioned by police about a motive, he added, “I always wondered what it would feel like to commit murder.”
Terri recounted the moment she discovered the remains in a police interview, providing a chilling insight into the events.
“I was tidying up his room, putting things away, and came across a plastic container in his closet. As I started digging through it, I found a plastic bag,” she explained.
“Curious, I picked it up, feeling its weight, and noticed it was infested with maggots. I took it to the sink, noticing it was double-bagged. I opened the first bag but couldn’t bring myself to open the second. I immediately called his father and said, ‘You need to come over right now’.”
As part of the documentary, Cohee recounted his horrifying crime to investigators.
“It was the night of February 27th it was a full moon and I figured I could see so well why not try it out, I am in a bad state of mind at that time, I have a major depressive disorder,” he stated.
“I was driving around and I saw a shape and I am like ‘oh interesting”. I’m like that’s a homeless person, so I grabbed my knife, I put on three layers of gloves because plastic gloves can betray their users because they’re so thin, I took the knife I pulled back the canvas and stabbed his neck.”
Last year, Cohee was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of first-degree murder.