How Could You? Hall of Shame-Chinese Selah Kaden Case-Child Death

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.

A case from May 2018 finally emerged.

From Mineral Point, Wisconsin, a 13-year-old adopted girl [Still Unnamed ] died “suspiciously in Iowa” in May 2018.

“A source close to this situation says the teen was living in the town of Mineral Point with a family other than her own in a foster care-type arrangement at the time of her death in May 2018.

Sources also tell 27 News the child’s adoptive parents live in North Carolina, but formerly lived in Middleton.

Days after the girl’s death, Iowa County Sheriff’s officials announced the death was “suspicious.” Sheriff Steve Michek says suicide has been ruled out as a cause of death, but cites a continuing investigation in declining any additional comment. Iowa County District Attorney Matt Allen has yet to respond to a request for comment from 27 News.

For several years until the child’s adoptive family moved in 2011, the girl and family lived in Middleton.

During that time, the girl’s mother posted a blog on the web site of the non-profit group Love Without Boundaries. The blog post identifies the girl as being a special needs child. The post counsels other families on approaches to helping children adopted from China acclimate and assimilate to lives with new families in the U.S.

Sources tell 27 News the child’s parents live in Charlotte. They also say the girl lived there with her family after they moved from Middleton.

The child’s mother has yet to respond to 27 News and offer an explanation for why the girl was living away from her family, and why she entrusted the child to the family in the town of Mineral Point. A source close to the situation says a catalyst for the child’s placement there was a church connection.

The head of the town of Mineral Point family runs a tree-cutting business. He’s declined comment to 27 News. The man and his family rented the property and moved in a short time before the girl in their care died.

Over a year after the death, Iowa County Coroner Wendell Hamlin has yet to publicly identify the child victim.

27 News is also not revealing the child’s name, pending action by Hamlin or a release of information from the girl’s next of kin.”

Suspicious Iowa Co. teen death involved child adopted from China

[Wkow 6/17/19 by Tony Galli]

Why the Hell have they not named the child?????Why the hell have they not arrested the so-called “respite” parents???

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: “Unsealed court records show investigators were suspicious of the actions of a third person in connection to a 13-year old Town of Mineral Point girl’s homicide.

50-year old Laurie Barry and her 28-year old daughter, Alexis Barry were charged earlier this month with first degree reckless homicide in the May 31, 2018 death of Selah Kaden, who was a friend’s child and in the care of the women at the time. Authorities allege the girl was suffocated and beaten over a period of time.

But an affidavit to support a search of the Barry’s home indicates detectives were suspicious a third family member may have tried to help cover up the crimes.

A search warrant return shows items seized from the home included a black jack – which authorities allege may have been used against the girl – but also a stethoscope.

The affidavit details the third family member’s return home and actions with the teen, after the Barry women had been monitoring the girl’s condition.

“The surrogate father used his stethoscope and listened for heart sounds and they were normal. Detective Fitzsimmons believes that this is inconstant (sic) with the lower body temperature,” the affidavit states. The affidavit says less than two hours after this examination, the teenager was pronounced dead, with her body temperature extremely low. Court records say authorities believed the girl was likely dead at the time the stethoscope was used.

The affidavit states there was “…ample time for suspects to…create a fictitious story to tell authorities prior to calling 911.”

The third family member is a former, state-licensed registered nurse.

He’s yet to respond to a request from 27 News for comment.

27 News also asked Iowa County District Attorney Matthew Allen why he rejected charging the third family member with obstruction or a similar crime. Allen has yet to respond.

The records related to the search of the Iowa County property were only unsealed and made public after WKOW-TV petitioned Judge Margaret Koehler, who rejected Allen’s request to keep the records sealed. Under Wisconsin law, the records of court-approved searches are presumed public.

Court records show Laurie Barry maintains the victim – who had a history of mental health treatment – caused her own injuries with fake fainting episodes to grab attention. The attorney for the Barry women say they are caring individuals who did not harm the teen.

The girl was adopted from China and was living with her adoptive parents in North Carolina until respite care with the Barry family was arranged shortly before her death.

The attorney for the Barry women is expected to push for dismissal of their charges in a court hearing scheduled in September. Laurie Barry and Alexis Barry remain free on signature bonds.”

Records show suspicions about third person in Iowa Co. teen’s homicide
[WKOW 7/23/19 by Tony Galli]

“A judge Tuesday ruled a mother and daughter charged with reckless homicide in connection with the death last year of a 13-year-old Iowa County girl will face trial.

Laurie D. Barry, 50, and her daughter, Alexis E. Barry, 28, of Mineral Point, face the charges in the May 31, 2018, death of Selah Kaden.

Selah is the daughter of David and Lisa Kaden, who reside in North Carolina, according to a criminal complaint filed earlier.

The Kaden’s had temporarily placed their daughter in the care of the Barry’s to receive respite from the teen’s emotional and psychological issues as they addressed the serious medical needs of another child.

Iowa County detective Lana Bowers testified Laurie Barry told her on the morning of the teen’s death, the girl “…fell backwards and hit her head hard on the floor.” Bowers testified Barry said the teen fell again ten minutes later, and ultimately remained on the ground, but alert.

Bowers testified Laurie Barry said the teenager had recently escalated attention-grabbing, fake fainting episodes.

Bowers said Kaden’s parents reported the teen had sneaked into the homes of neighbors in North Carolina and ate food that made her sick before he relocation to Wisconsin, but was not involved in any self-harm.

UW forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Stier testified the girl suffered over fifty “impact-injuries” over body that were not consistent with harming herself. Stier said the teen’s condition showed she had been suffocated and beaten over time, and had worn a diaper.

“That’s why, one of the reasons why I use for the first time in my profession the word ‘torture,’ ” Stier said. “Because this child was suffering.”

“It is also not a fast death to smother or suffocate because this takes minutes of applied force,” Stier testified.

Bowers testified she received information from a physician at an Iowa County hospital after the teenager was taken there and pronounced dead. “He explained that the death was four to five hours prior to the 911 call,” Bowers said.

Bowers said Laurie and Alexis Barry had an explanation for why 911 was not called earlier. “They believed Selah was fake fainting and observed signs to make them believe that,” she testified.

Detective Brian Fitzsimons testified emergency medical technicians who responded to the Barry home asked for a law enforcement response after interacting with Alexis and Laurie Barry and her husband Jesse. “Her caregivers seemed suspicious and were not overly concerned with the victim’s condition,” Fitzsimons said.

Bowers testified she observed the girl’s condition after her death was pronounced at the hospital.

There were injuries basically all over her body,” she testified.

But under cross examination by the Barry women’s attorney, Bowers said Laurie Barry spoke on the phone with Kaden’s father hours before the 911 call and described the teen’s situation and condition, and asked if she should take the girl to a doctor, and the father said no.

Attorney Brian Brophy also contested Stier’s conclusions, even suggesting the teenager could have been injured by donkeys on the Barry property.

The Barrys and Kadens met in 2000 when their children attended the same Madison school.

Alexis and Laurie Barry are free on signature bonds that require they have no contact with the victim’s parents.”

Mother, daughter face trial in Iowa County teen’s reckless homicide; pathologist cites “torture”

[WKOW 10/8/19 by Tony Galli]

A search of the Wisconsin Court Case Files shows that they plead not guilty. Their motion Hearing in on February 21, 2020 .