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By Kathy Adams Sarah Hutchins The Virginian-Pilot June 1, 2012 VIRGINIA BEACH William Lafar Barrington disappeared from Isle of Wight County in1992 after federal drug agents charged him in a marijuana-growingoperation there. He spent the past 12 years living in a red-and-white two-story homein Princess Anne Plaza under more than a dozen identities,sometimes calling himself Earl Guilfoyle, other times going by JohnYantz, and supporting himself with about 100 marijuana plantsgrowing inside. He occupied his time with coin collecting, keeping careful track ofhis plants' care on calendar pages dating to 2005, and readingabout how to hide his identity. That's all according to a police application for a search ofBarrington's residence, filed in Circuit Court. Turns out, the subterfuge may all have been for nothing. Years after Barrington disappeared, authorities withdrew thecharges against him, said Officer Jimmy Barnes, a Virginia Beachpolice spokesman. He no longer was a wanted man. Barrington died April 18 of a heart problem at age 69, still underan assumed identity, that of a Bill Meaders, according to thesearch application. But when police went to his home to find family to notify that hehad died, they instead found a marijuana farm and discovered thereal Bill Meaders was alive and living in Georgia, according to theapplication. That man, William Meaders, 43, said in a phone interview Thursdaythat he'd lived in Virginia Beach for about a year in 1992 - thesame year authorities charged Barrington - before relocating,eventually ending up in the small town of Homer, Ga. "I was just floored," he said. Meaders said he had battled drug addiction during his time inVirginia but has stayed clean for the last 18 years. The news thatsomeone had been using his name in connection with a possible drugoperation was frustrating. "It made me think, what would have happened if they had bustedin the house and he had not been there and my name been oneverything?" Meaders said. "They probably would havetried to come after me. That's what I worry about." Neighbors said they, too, were surprised when police last monthstarted combing through Barrington's residence in the 3500 block ofRaintree Road. Vicki and Paul Biggs said they'd lived across the street fromBarrington for six years but had never met him or seen him havevisitors. They said they often speculated about their neighbor'sback story, wondering whether he was perhaps a retiree or awidower. "He kept to himself," Vicki Biggs said. "We knewabsolutely nothing about him." Police launched death and narcotics investigations after searchingthe Raintree Road house, but they found no associates and made nofurther arrests, Barnes said. Both investigations are now closed. Kathy Adams, 757-222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com Sarah Hutchins, 757-222-5131, sarah.hutchins@pilotonline.com. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as China Microfiber Travel Towel , Personalized Handkerchief Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Decorative Pillow Fabric.
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