Bio 

Ulysses Handy III was born in 1982. Public reporting states that he was raised by a single mother in New Orleans and attended Catholic schools. In later interviews, Handy said he had been an honor student, a Boy Scout, an altar boy, and a choir member before becoming involved in violence and crime.

Handy’s mother, Toshika Barnes, later apologized publicly to the victims’ families and said he had not been raised to commit violence. She described the murders as something she could not understand or excuse.

Before the 2006 triple murder, Handy had already spent time in prison. He later told reporters that he had served about eight years for striking a man with a baseball bat. At sentencing, Handy claimed prison had removed whatever compassion or mercy he once had, though this was his own explanation and should not be treated as a legal defense or verified cause of the murders.

By 2006, Handy was associated with Darren Christian and Daniel Varo. Reports described the victims and Handy as part of the same social circle. Media coverage also noted that some of those involved knew each other through MySpace, which later became part of broader reporting about the case.

Murder Story

On February 7, 2006, Ulysses Handy III went to a house in Tacoma, Washington, where Darren Christian, Daniel Varo, and Lindy Cochran were present. According to prosecutors, the crime involved a planned robbery, but it was not described as a robbery that unexpectedly turned deadly. Prosecutors said the killings were planned from the beginning and described the case as a drug-related robbery and execution-style murder.

Court documents and media reports state that Handy and others stole a safe containing cash from the home. The victims were then shot execution-style. Handy later admitted that he personally shot the three victims. In a jailhouse interview, he said he killed Darren Christian first and then shot Daniel Varo and Lindy Cochran because they were witnesses. He described feeling “nothing” at the moment of the killings.

Prosecutors said several other people were involved in the crime. Reports identified Sirree Muhammad as the person accused of providing the gun, Darryl Pierce as a lookout, and Ronee Gutierrez as the driver who allegedly took the men to the house and helped dispose of the stolen safe.

Handy was charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder. He also faced other charges, including robbery, assault, and unlawful firearm possession. On August 30, 2006, Handy pleaded guilty to the murders of Darren Christian, Daniel Varo, and Lindy Cochran. The plea agreement allowed him to avoid a possible death sentence. Under the terms of the agreement, he received life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

During sentencing, Handy showed no remorse. He smiled and laughed as victims’ relatives addressed the court. He told the families, “Pain is part of life. Deal with it. Get over it.”

Relatives of the victims described the lasting harm caused by the murders. Lindy Cochran’s great-uncle, Richard Frost, told the court that she had been only 21 years old and said Handy shot her while she pleaded for her life. Family members of the other victims also spoke about the loss and trauma caused by the killings.

Judge Frank Cuthbertson sentenced Handy to life in prison without release. The judge told the victims’ families that although the sentence might not feel like full justice, Handy would never again be free to harm the community.

After sentencing, Handy’s mother apologized to the victims’ families outside the courtroom. In later media interviews, Handy continued to show no remorse. He described the world as divided between “predators and prey” and said he was not “prey.” He also said that if he was going to hell, he expected to see many people there.

Ulysses Handy III remains imprisoned, serving life without parole.