IOWA COUNTY (WKOW) — The two women charged in connection with the death last year of a 13-year-old Iowa County girl made their initial appearance today in Iowa County Circuit Court.
Laurie D. Barry, 50, and her daughter, Alexis E. Barry, 27, of Mineral Point, face charges of first-degree reckless homicide in the May 31, 2018, death of Selah Kaden, who was 13 at the time.
Selah is the daughter of David and Lisa Kaden, who reside in North Carolina, according to a criminal complaint filed earlier.
The judge ordered a $250,000 signature bond, that the women have no contact with David or Lisa Kaden or their immediate family members, and that they appear at the Iowa County Jail by Friday for booking.
Neither woman testified at the hearing. They will return to court Oct. 8 at 8:30 a.m. for a preliminary hearing to allow the defense time to file motions in the case.
According to Judge Margaret Koehler the charge alleges, Laurie and Alexis Barry showed an utter disregard for human life leading up to the Selah Kaden’s death.
Laurie Barry, who could be seen wiping tears during the proceedings, struggled to respond to the charge.
As detailed in the criminal complaint, at the time of her death, Selah was staying with the Barrys by mutual agreement of the families while the Kadens addressed the medical needs of another one of their children.
The complaints allege Alexis and Laurie “created an unreasonable and substantial risk of death or great bodily harm to Selah Kaden,” and also say the two demonstrated “an utter disregard for human life.”
The Barrys told investigators that Selah had a history of falling to gain attention.
On May 31, Selah “fell backwards, falling harder than she meant to and hitting her head pretty hard on the floor or possibly the bookshelf,” the criminal complaints said.
Laurie and Alexis describe checking on Selah throughout the afternoon and calling Selah’s parents.
Laurie,according to the criminal complaint, said Selah’s condition had not changed until Jesse Barry got home.
Jesse called 9-1-1 at 4:39 p.m., and EMT’s rushed Selah to Upland Hills Health where she was declared dead.
The doctor who performed the autopsy said in his report that there was evidence of Selah being suffocated to death, according to the complaint.
There was also evidence of what the criminal complaints call “possible restraint marks about both wrists.”
The criminal complaints also say the autopsy indicated “more than one perpetrator was likely involved in causing Selah Kaden’s death and that post mortem findings strongly suggested a delay in reporting the fatality at the scene.”
Iowa County District Attorney Matthew Allen said it doesn’t appear that either women show a threat to the community at this point. Neither has a criminal history and both cooperated with the investigation.
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