Woman sentenced in death of owner of jewelry kiosk

By Matt Pordum (contact)

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2004 | 9:07 a.m.

A 20-year-old mother of two on Tuesday was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for the May 2003 murder of the 40-year-old owner of a jewelry kiosk at Fashion Show mall.

A Clark County jury convicted Natasha Barker on May 5 on charges of murder with use of a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery with use of a deadly weapon and first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon for the slaying of Anthony Limongello.

District Court Judge Joseph Bonaventure told Barker: "I've had a lot of women murderers before me and you join an evil list of woman murderers. Society always regards murder as the supreme crime. You did it for greed, deceit, selfishness, all of this (to Barker) was more important than his life. His (Anthony Limongello) only weakness was his kindness and you preyed upon it."

Barker, whose family packed the courtroom, used her time to address the court to apologize directly to Anthony Limongello's mother, Jean Limongello.

"I just want to say to Ms. Limongello that I am sorry her son is lost," Barker said. "I never meant for her son to die, and I do pray every night for you. I can't bring him back, but I am sorry."

Jean Limongello told the court she forgave Barker for taking the life of her son, who she said was "sunshine to me and those that loved him." She made it clear, however, that "forgiveness does not mean she (Barker) should not pay the consequences."

Bonaventure said that without Barker's actions, Limongello might still be alive today, as she was the "one who lured" Limongello behind a Las Vegas strip mall, where he was carjacked, robbed and shot in the head.

The plot allegedly consisted of Barker calling her friend Joanna Reyes, 20, who was living with Limongello, asking for a ride, knowing that Limongello would be forced to drive since Reyes neither owned a car nor had a driver's license.

Limongello and Reyes agreed to pick her up and were eventually led to the back of a strip mall where they were carjacked by a man. A Clark County jury found that man to be Aaron Daniels, as they convicted him on July 29 on the same charges as Barker for the killing.

Daniels is scheduled for formal sentencing on Sept. 7 before Bonaventure.

Metro Police and prosecutors are continuing to investigate Limongello's murder because of the possibility that other people were involved.

During Daniels' trial, testimony raised the possibility that as many as three other individuals, including the man many believe was the shooter, could face charges if better evidence -- specifically independent corroborated evidence -- were found.