Meth user burns 5th oldest tree in the world
Four out of five dentists agree — smoking meth in a tree is as rough on the environment as it is on teeth.
Sarah Barnes, 26, is charged with burning tree, 3,500.
Need proof? Consider the sorrowful tale of 26-year-old Sarah Barnes, arrested Tuesday in Florida for burning down the fifth oldest tree in the world, reports WFTV in Orlando.
Barnes has admitted starting the fire and is charged with meth possession with intent to sell and arson.
Police say she and a friend clambered into a 118-foot-tall bald cypress Jan. 16 and allegedly smoked meth. Since it was dark, Barnes is alleged to have lit a fire so she could see.
Somehow, the calm, dextrous hands of a meth user led to a blaze that burned the 3,500-year-old plant “from the inside out.”
The night of the blaze, firefighters ran a mile of hose in a desperate attempt to save the tree, reports wesh.com.
“I can’t believe I burned down a tree older then Jesus,” Barnes is alleged to have said to friends while showing them pictures she took of the damage.
The ancient Taxodium distichum, dubbed “The Senator,” was located near Longwood, Fla., in Big Tree Park, which will need a new name.
- Read more about The Senator.
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70 comments Add your comment
ogt
February 29th, 2012
6:55 pm
What is the relevance of her having worked as a nude model? And what is the matter with people wanting her to die? She did a bad thing, yes, and she should be punished, or at least get clean… but seriously?
RIZE
February 29th, 2012
7:04 pm
I agree with the others here. What the h*ll type of reporting is this??? Some addict defaces and kills a living historic treasure and Mr. Mathis turns it into a sensational joke. Come on AJC, this is pathetic.
Zed
March 1st, 2012
8:42 am
If this was an unintentional reach out or cry for help and attention, then this person certainly got it…in spadefuls…or more like a torrential downpour…I’d say. Perhaps the death of a 3500 year old tree, could turn out to be the saving of one human life from a self-destructive drug addiction? It’s terrible and tragic that the tree is no more…but perhaps it may have fulfilled a wise and wonderful purpose beyond itself…other than simply being an ancient tree.
Tarvaris
March 1st, 2012
11:19 am
Stumps me why anyone would do something so plum stupid. She was a sap to risk life and limb fir no reason. But yew never know, maybe she will turn over a new leaf.
cracker jack
March 1st, 2012
11:44 am
#rize: Read George’s other entries. Sensational/funny stories is his schtick. But I do agree that it’s unfortunate he treated this story in such jovial fashion.
Lori
March 1st, 2012
12:29 pm
People are not a waist they just need help, what the drug does to them is not right but they truly need a lot of rehab. for drugs . She needs help and needs to take responsability with what happened. It is very sad that the tree is lost , but lives could have been taken as well .
Pat Thomas
March 1st, 2012
4:31 pm
“calm, dextrous hands of a meth user” ??? Of course, you are joking. Stop making excuses for these people. She should be up on Federal charges in a Federal pen. We all know why she isn’t. It’s the south you know.
BobbyThePHAM
March 1st, 2012
4:55 pm
Lol, anyone see the date of this article? They put 2/29/12
lesley
March 2nd, 2012
12:03 am
Let me see here . . where to begin. Meth addict = bad and stupid. Attempting to be a model with those looks after the ravages of meth = bad and stupid. Burning down the fifth oldest tree in the world and then laughIng about it — SICK, JUST SICK. THAT TREE WAS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, WORTH MORE THAN THIS WASTE OF A SPACE JUNKIE. I hope Florida persecutes her to the fullest extent of the law. what a loser
Christopher M. Burns Ozz
March 2nd, 2012
12:31 am
it’s sad that a tree had to die that way, whether it was 1yr or 3500yrs old, it’s just sad.. I hope she quits the meth too, surely can’t be good for those around her… I agree with someone though, her punishment should be to plant more trees and possibly do some community service working with nature and cleanup.. I don’t really see how she was a model or whatever though, not very pretty.. I guess the drugs do that, idk