What did Rhett Barlow Do? Who is Barlow’s Mother?
Olivia Shea
Updated on December 31, 2025
The popular English teacher Michelle Barlow, who tragically lost her life in a car accident in 2016, has a 22-year-old son named Rhett Barlow.
Rhett Barlow, 22, was arrested at Fort Liberty by the Wake Forest Police Department and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division.
He is the son of the late Michelle Barlow, and he is facing charges of soliciting first-degree murder after he is allegedly accused of hiring a hitman to exact revenge on his mother for her death in a car crash in 2016.
What did Rhett Barlow Do?
The 22-year-old Rhett Barlow is charged with planning a plot of retaliation after his mother died in a car accident in 2016. Donald Caulder Jr., who was charged and found guilty, was operating a dump truck when his mother Michelle’s minivan collided fatally. Rhett is alleged to have harbored resentment and hired a hitman to exact revenge on his mother.
Being a popular English teacher, Michelle’s passing led to the family receiving financial support. The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division arrested Rhett in response to recent accusations. He has a $1 million bond and is accused of soliciting the murder of a first-degree victim. Investigations into the case are still ongoing, providing insight into a tragic event and its unsettling aftermath.
Why did Rhett Barlow Hire a Hitman?
On March 22, 2016, a fatal collision occurred on Capital Boulevard close to Burlington Mills Road. Donald was operating a Freightliner dump truck when he collided with Michelle, Rhett Barlow’s mother, who was driving a minivan.
Following an alleged rear-end collision with Michelle’s car that resulted in her death, Donald was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and failure to reduce speed.
The dump truck’s non-operational brakes at the time were discovered during investigations. Donald was pardoned by Michelle’s husband, but Rhett remained bitter. Rhett was recently accused of hatching a revenge plot by hiring a hitman to exact revenge on his mother.
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division then arrested Rhett, and investigations are still underway to find out more information regarding the purported plot. The incident brings to light a tragic past and the nuanced feelings associated with it.
Who is Barlow’s Mother?
In a tragic car accident in 2016, Wake Forest High School English teacher Michelle Barlow lost her life. Well known for being a popular teacher, Michelle was absent from the campus during the deadly incident because she had a work meeting. Following the collision, a fundraiser was started to pay for her funeral costs.
After about a year, the state Department of Public Instruction and the Wake County school system contributed a significant amount of money—roughly $350,000—to help Michelle’s family.
Who is Rhett Barlow?
The popular English teacher Michelle Barlow, who tragically lost her life in a car accident in 2016, has a 22-year-old son named Rhett Barlow. Rhett Barlow recently made headlines after being charged with soliciting first-degree murder after being arrested on January 6. With a $1 million bond, he is being held at the Wake County Detention Center right now.
