Christina Kramer is seeking answers and resolution a decade after her daughter, Angie Barlow, was murdered. Barlow, 23, disappeared on Oct. 26, 2016, after texting her roommate about a private dancing gig.
"About to work this private party in case I go missing LOL," Barlow wrote in the text message, according to her mother. Eight months later, Barlow's remains were discovered in an Indianapolis backyard. Kramer stated that her daughter had been fatally shot.
Kramer has expressed frustration with the lack of communication from the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, estimating it has been two years since she last heard from them. She noted that a special prosecutor initially assigned to the case had left the office. Kramer said she has attempted to contact Marion County Prosecuting Attorney Ryan Mears without success. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Surveillance footage from the apartment complex where Barlow was headed showed two vehicles departing around 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 27, 2016. One vehicle was identified as Barlow’s blue Pontiac G6, followed closely by a black sedan believed to belong to a female acquaintance who worked with Barlow. The footage did not clearly identify the occupants due to tinted windows, according to WISH-TV.
Days after Barlow's disappearance, Kramer used a GPS tracker from the dealership where her daughter purchased the car to locate it. The vehicle was found about eight miles from the apartment complex. Kramer noted that the car, which Barlow typically kept clean, was found in a trashed state and appeared to have been driven under a fence.
Months later, Kramer reported receiving a phone call from the acquaintance who had been at the party with her boyfriend. Kramer said Barlow knew the couple but they were not friends, and that Barlow had taken the gig for "quick cash." During a January 2017 call, Kramer recalled asking the acquaintance what she and Barlow had discussed. The woman allegedly responded, "Oh, you want to know what her last words were." Kramer interpreted this remark as a taunt, though the woman later denied making the call and having that conversation.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has stated that no criminal charges have been filed in Barlow's death. IMPD confirmed the investigation remains open with Detective Jose Torres as the lead investigator but declined to provide further comment.
Kramer described her daughter as a gifted athlete who excelled in multiple sports. She was the eldest of four sisters and maintained close ties with them. Barlow's death has had a profound impact on the family, particularly her youngest sister, who was four years old when Barlow disappeared.
Kramer has vowed to continue advocating for her daughter. "My daughter was the victim. She can’t speak for herself. I’m her survivor. I’m her voice, and I speak for her," Kramer stated.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department encourages anyone with information to contact its homicide office at 317-327-3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS (8477).