At Barbieri Law Firm, P.C., we defend people in Collin and Denton County charged with homicide or under investigation for murder or manslaughter.
Since 2000, our team has handled serious cases in Frisco, combining board-certified criminal defense experience, an in-house investigation team, and in-house reputation management built to protect your standing while the case is pending.
A homicide charge moves fast. In the first hours, evidence is collected, statements are taken, and a narrative starts forming before the defense ever weighs in. Under Texas Penal Code § 19.03, a conviction for capital murder carries either death or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Our team steps in early, explains each stage in plain language, and starts working the facts before charging decisions are locked in. Early intervention is the difference between shaping the investigation and reacting to it.
Understanding Homicide Charges in Frisco, TX
Homicide is not a single charge. Under the Texas Penal Code, it covers several offenses with very different penalties.
- Murder (Penal Code §19.02): An intentional or knowing killing, or a death caused by an act clearly dangerous to human life during another felony. Murder is a first-degree felony carrying 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
- Capital Murder (§19.03): The most serious charge, reserved for specific situations like the killing of a peace officer, murder for hire, multiple victims, or the death of a child under 10.
- Manslaughter (§19.04): A death caused by reckless conduct, meaning the person disregarded a serious risk.
- Criminally Negligent Homicide (§19.05): A death caused by negligence. This is a state jail felony, the least severe homicide charge.
Charges can shift. Sudden passion may reduce a murder sentence. A deadly weapon or gang link can raise it.
Our Homicide Defense Services in Frisco
- Pre-charge intervention
- Pre-arrest and grand jury representation
- Capital murder defense
- First- and second-degree murder defense
- Manslaughter and negligent homicide defense
- Bail and bond hearings
- Crime scene and forensic evidence analysis
- Digital evidence and timeline review
- Eyewitness credibility challenges
- Autopsy and medical examiner report review
- Expert witness coordination
- Jury selection strategy
- Criminal appeals
- Reputation and media management
Facing charges? Talk to a Frisco defense attorney today.
Why Choose Barbieri Law Firm in Frisco
Board certified in criminal law
Our founding attorney has been board-certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2005. According to the State Bar of Texas’s 2023 Annual Report, fewer than 1% of Texas attorneys hold this credential.
Real Collin and Denton County experience
Our team knows the Frisco courthouses with 25 years of hands-on work there.
In-house investigation from day one
Our embedded investigator reconstructs timelines and reviews forensic and digital evidence early, with no outsourcing delays.
In-house reputation management
We work to protect your professional standing, employer relationships, and privacy during and after the case. Few defense firms offer this as part of the defense.
Early intervention and direct access
With 25 years in practice, 55+ combined years of experience, and 260+ client reviews, our limited caseload means direct attorney access, private consultations that create no public record, and after-hours support when you need it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Homicide Arrest in Frisco
The hours after a homicide arrest move fast, and small decisions can shape the entire case. These are the mistakes that hurt families most.
- Talking to police without a lawyer. Under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), statements made without proper warning of your rights may be thrown out. Never speak with law enforcement without an attorney present.
- Posting on social media. Digital statements are admissible in court and can be used to suggest intent or guilt. Say nothing online.
- Contacting witnesses, the alleged victim’s family, or co-defendants. This can look like tampering and create new charges.
- Waiting to retain counsel. Early involvement lets our team shape the investigation rather than react to it.
- Assuming family or friends can speak for you. Statements should be coordinated through your murder defense attorney first.
- Underestimating capital elevation risk. Cases involving a peace officer, a child, or a murder-for-hire allegation can raise the charge.
- Failing to preserve alibi evidence, phone records, and surveillance footage before it disappears.
About Barbieri Law Firm, P.C.
Barbieri Law Firm has spent 25 years standing beside families in Frisco when a loved one is charged with a violent crime, guiding them through the courts when nothing about it makes sense.
Our founding attorney is board-certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential held by fewer than 1% of Texas attorneys and one she has maintained since 2005.
Her team brings more than 55 combined years of experience, an in-house investigator who starts building the defense on day one, and in-house reputation support that protects a client’s career while the case is active.
A first call is confidential and does not create a public record. With 260+ client reviews, our team is ready to explain your options and how retainer structures work.
Our Homicide Defense Process in Frisco
1. Confidential Consultation and Case Assessment
You reach out by phone, web form, or referral. Our intake team gathers the facts, assesses urgency, and escalates immediately when needed. This first conversation is private and creates no public record.
2. Attorney Consultation and Strategy Review
You meet directly with an attorney to review the facts, assess the risk, and outline a defense strategy. We set clear expectations and explain your next steps in plain language, including retainer options.
3. Retention and Case Onboarding
Once you retain the firm, you sign an agreement and the case is formally opened with clear communication on what happens next.
4. Active Defense and Ongoing Support
Our team begins building your defense immediately: in-house investigation, evidence review, and proactive strategy. We keep you updated through resolution, whether by dismissal, negotiation, or trial, and our in-house reputation support protects your standing throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homicide Defense
What is the difference between murder and capital murder in Texas, and why does it matter so much?
In Texas, murder means intentionally or knowingly causing someone’s death, or causing death during another felony. Capital murder is a narrower category that includes killings involving a police officer, a child under 10, multiple victims, or a death during certain other crimes. Capital murder can carry life without parole or the death penalty, while murder is a first-degree felony with a different sentencing range.
What is the self-defense law in Texas and how does it apply to a homicide case?
Texas law allows a person to use deadly force when they reasonably believe it is immediately necessary to protect themselves from death, serious injury, or certain violent crimes. Texas also has a stand-your-ground rule, meaning there is no duty to retreat if you are somewhere you have a legal right to be.
What actually happens at a grand jury hearing for a murder charge, and can my lawyer be there?
A grand jury is a group of citizens who decide whether there is enough evidence to formally charge someone. In Texas, the process is secret, the prosecutor presents the evidence, and the accused person usually does not testify. Your defense attorney cannot argue inside the grand jury room, but the work done beforehand matters.
Can I be charged with murder if I didn’t intend to kill someone?
Yes, and this surprises many families. Texas recognizes several homicide levels based on state of mind. Manslaughter applies when a death is caused recklessly, meaning the person consciously ignored a serious risk. Criminally negligent homicide applies when someone should have been aware of the risk but was not.
Will my family member’s name appear in the news if they are charged with homicide in Frisco?
It is a real risk, especially in serious cases. Arrest records and charging documents are generally public in Texas, and local media monitor Collin and Denton County filings.
Does calling a defense attorney make things more official or more public?
No. A consultation with an attorney is confidential and does not create a public record. Speaking privately with a lawyer is one of the most protective steps a family can take, and it is protected by attorney-client privilege. Waiting is what actually costs options, because evidence is gathered and decisions are made whether or not the defense is involved.
What Clients Say About Barbieri Law Firm
“From the top down everyone here is professional and 100% engaged in assisting you until the end.” – Sailingman
The firm’s team-based approach means an entire group stays engaged and responsive throughout the case.
“She was extremely helpful through the whole process, as I was clueless on what to do and felt I had nowhere to turn.” – Nikhil P.
Families arrive disoriented and afraid. This reflects the calm, patient guidance the team provides when clients do not know where to start.
“They care about you and your reputation and will not back down.” – Lisa G.
Reputation is often what frightens professional families most. This speaks directly to the firm’s in-house reputation management and its focus on protecting a client’s standing.
“The entire team helped to keep our minds at ease throughout the whole process.” – Lisa G.
Consistent communication helps families breathe again when a loved one is charged.
Local Resources in Frisco for Homicide Defense
- Frisco Police Department – Investigates local homicide cases and handles police reports, evidence, witness information, and public-record requests.
- Collin County District Courts – Handle felony criminal cases arising on the Collin County side of Frisco.
- Collin County District Attorney’s Office – Prosecutes felony cases filed in Collin County and works with law enforcement, witnesses, and crime victims.
- Collin County Detention Facility – Provides inmate searches, visitation information, phone access, mail procedures, and bond information for defendants held in Collin County.
- Denton County District Clerk and Records Search – Maintains criminal district-court records and provides access to case and law-enforcement record searches.
- Denton County Jail – Provides inmate records, visitation rules, legal-mail procedures, bond information, and other detention services.
- County Law Libraries – The Collin County and Denton County law libraries provide public access to statutes, court rules, case law, Westlaw or LexisNexis resources, and other legal research materials.
Facing a Homicide Charge in Frisco? Contact Barbieri Law Firm
If someone in your family has been charged with homicide or is under investigation in Collin County, the next hours matter. Evidence is being gathered right now. The story of what happened is being shaped without your side in it. Waiting does not slow that down. It only narrows your options.
Our in-house investigation team starts building your defense on day one, and our in-house reputation management protects your family’s professional standing and
Call us anytime, including after hours. If you are not ready to call, reach us through our confidential contact form and we will respond privately.
