The State paid for his facial surgeries, which left him unrecognizable and required wearing a partial mask on his face.

While awaiting trial, Rocky Barton was held in the Warren County Jail in Lebanon, Ohio.

The Ohio Supreme Court held oral argument in September 2005 and in October 2005 Barton filed another pro se motion to waive all review of his conviction.

Barton had worked as a construction laborer and horse trainer and had served time in prison before the murder.

He admitted his parents' divorce, drug and alcohol use, as well as problems with depression and anxiety, had influenced his life.