How Could You? Hall of Shame-Jennifer Louis Barnes UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Gilbert, Arizona, adoptive parent Jennifer Louise Barnes was arrested on Thursday September 8, 2011 for abuse of her 10-year-old adopted son.

Warning: Graphic description of abuse

She was booked her on a count each of child abuse (a class 2 felony) and sexual contact with a minor, according to Maricopa County Superior Court documents. She is being held without bond.

The Arizona Republic reports “the boy told investigators that his adoptive mother had on one occasion bound his hands and feet, then forced dog feces into his mouth and taped it shut using duct tape. He said she burned his private area before abusing him with a toothbrush.

On another occasion, the boy said his mother burned his penis with a curling iron, then used a toothbrush to sodomize him, the documents said.

A pediatrician who examined the boy found evidence of injuries consistent with the boy’s account, the documents said.

The incidents occurred between May 2010 and August 2011. The woman told authorities that she had sole custody of the boy on the dates that he said the abuse happened, according to the documents.

The woman denied having knowledge of abuse or the scars, according to the court documents. Authorities said she gave inconsistent accounts about the events during an interview.”

Fox reports that in both cases of the penis burning the boy bled. “During a physical exam, it was discovered that the child had large scars on his pelvic area and legs, consistent with healed burns. He also had three distinct scars, consistent with his disclosure of being sodomized.

During an interview with a detective, Barnes stated that she was the sole caregiver during the time of the incidents the victim discussed, but she provided inconsistent statements concerning the investigation.”

“According to court paperwork, there are previous reports with Child Protective Services involving Barnes and her son.

Barnes is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 15.”

Phoenix New Times adds “In other instances, the boy told the interviewer, Barnes burned his penis with a curling iron before tying a necklace around it, which caused the boy’s penis to bleed.

Following the interview, the boy was forensically examined by a doctor. During the examination, the doctor discovered scars on his penis that were “consistent with healed burns.” The doctor found other scars on the boy’s anus consistent with the abuse the boy described to the interviewer.” Comments in this blog by a supposed neighbor discuss other abuses that might have been in those previous reports to CPS.

ABC says “We spoke to family members off camera who say these allegations are false. We are told that Barnes has an attorney. ” Also, the tv report states that there are burn scars on his back and that a neighbor whose child plays with the boy has seen marks on his neck.

Gilbert woman abused adopted son with lighter, police say
[The Arizona Republic 9/9/11 by Morgan Sailor]

Woman Faces Charges in Horrific Child Abuse Case
[FoxNews Phoenix 9/9/11 by Kim Schriner]

Woman accused of abusing adopted son
[Arizona Family 9/9/11 by Natalie Rivers]

Jennifer Barnes Adopted a Child — Then Shoved Feces in His Mouth, Stuck Toothbrush in Anus. CPS Drops Ball Again?
[Phoenix New Times Blog 9/9/11 by James King]

Gilbert woman accused of abusing boy
[ABC 15 9/9/11]

Update/June 23, 2012: No new media articles have been published on this case. A public search of the Arizona Judicial Branch reveals the history of this case:

She has 13 counts against her: One count of sexual conduct with a minor and 12 counts of child/vulnerable adult abuse

She was arraigned on 9/28/11. She pled not guilty on 10/3/11. The initial pretrial conference was 11/14/11 with additional ones on 12/13/11 and 1/18/12. On 1/24/12 it was designated a complex/capital case. There was another pretrial conference on 3/8/12. The next scheduled hearing is on 6/25/12 ,designated complex/capital case. Pretrial has now moved to 10/29/12 with a trial scheduled for 11/5/12.

REFORM Puzzle Pieces

Update 2: “A Gilbert woman accused of abusing her adopted son has pleaded guilty to two counts of child abuse.

Maricopa County prosecutors say 40-year-old Jennifer Louise Barnes entered into a plea agreement Tuesday.

She will be sentenced on April 26.

Barnes was arrested in September 2011 on suspicion of child abuse and sexual contact with a minor.

According to court documents, the then 10-year-old boy told investigators that Barnes allegedly forced dog feces into his mouth and then taped it shut using duct tape.

The boy also claimed Barnes burned his genitals with a lighter and sodomized him with a toothbrush.

A pediatrician examined the boy and found evidence of injuries consistent with his account of the incidents, which allegedly occurred between May 2010 and August 2011.”

Gilbert woman pleads guilty in child abuse case

[My Fox Phoenix 3/24/13 by Associated Press]

Update 3/September 24, 2013

A search of media finds that she was sentenced in May 2013.

“The Gilbert mother who shoved feces in her 10-year-old son’s mouth and shoved his toothbrush in his anus in 2011, among other horrific abuses, will be spending some time in prison.

A judge sentenced 41-year-old Jennifer Barnes today to more than 13 years in prison, which will be followed be a lifetime on probation.

Barnes took a plea agreement in March, pleading guilty to two counts of child abuse, in exchange for 11 other charges being dismissed.

Child Protective Services had a file open on Barnes in 2011 when police interviewed her 10-year-old adopted son, but court records previously obtained by New Times did not detail how police or CPS ended up interested in Barnes.

The boy told a forensic interviewer that Barnes would tie him up, shove dog feces in his mouth, and tape his mouth shut, according to the documents.

He said on other occasions, Barnes burned his penis with a lighter, and shoved his toothbrush into his anus.

The boy told the interviewer that Barnes made his penis bleed once, after burning it with a curling iron, then tying a necklace around it, according to the documents. He said these incidents all took place between May 2010 and August 2011.

A doctor examined the boy after the interview, and said there were scars on the boy’s penis that were “consistent with healed burns,” according to the documents. The doctor also saw scars on the boy’s anus, which he noted were consisted with the abuse the boy described.

Barnes denied abusing the boy, but a Gilbert detective wrote in a probable-cause statement that she gave inconsistent information.

Barnes’ sentence calls for 13 1/2 years in prison.”

Jennifer Barnes Headed to Prison for Shoving Feces in Son’s Mouth, Toothbrush in His Anus

[Phoenix New Times 5/31/13 by Matthew Hendley]