LOS ANGELES -- A foster mother and day care owner has been charged with murder in the death of a 2-year-old girl who authorities say was struck with a hammer. Her boyfriend has been charged as an accessory to murder in the case.
Police said Monday that 30-year-old Kiana Barker was arrested Thursday on murder and child abuse charges. She's being held on $1.1 million bail.
Her boyfriend, 38-year-old James Julian, surrendered Saturday after a warrant was issued on charges of dissuading a witness and accessory to murder. He's being held on $1.6 million bail.
Barker is accused of killing 2-year-old Viola Vanclief, who died on March 4.
Barker initially told investigators that she accidentally struck the child with a hammer while trying to free her from a bed frame.
But, coroner's records show the girl had several bruises.
Barker worked for the nonprofit foster care agency United Care Inc., which contracts with Los Angeles County to provide shelter for abused and neglected children.
She has two biological children under the age of 10. She also had two foster children, including Vanclief.
Barker has since been decertified as a foster parent.
Child welfare records concluded that Barker severely neglected her own child in 2002, according to confidential records reviewed by the Los Angeles Times.
Four other child abuse complaints were lodged against Barker in subsequent years, but social workers were unable to substantiate the complaints, the records show.
Jeff Hiratsuka, head of the state Community Care Licensing Division, which is responsible for licensing foster parents, could not explain why the 2002 substantiated-neglect probe did not disqualify Barker when she applied in 2005 for a child-care license and in 2009 for foster-care certification.
It was unclear whether Barker's history had not been reported to the state database by county workers, or if it had been reported and overlooked, Hiratsuka said.
Police said Monday that 30-year-old Kiana Barker was arrested Thursday on murder and child abuse charges. She's being held on $1.1 million bail.
Her boyfriend, 38-year-old James Julian, surrendered Saturday after a warrant was issued on charges of dissuading a witness and accessory to murder. He's being held on $1.6 million bail.
Barker is accused of killing 2-year-old Viola Vanclief, who died on March 4.
Barker initially told investigators that she accidentally struck the child with a hammer while trying to free her from a bed frame.
But, coroner's records show the girl had several bruises.
Barker worked for the nonprofit foster care agency United Care Inc., which contracts with Los Angeles County to provide shelter for abused and neglected children.
She has two biological children under the age of 10. She also had two foster children, including Vanclief.
Barker has since been decertified as a foster parent.
Child welfare records concluded that Barker severely neglected her own child in 2002, according to confidential records reviewed by the Los Angeles Times.
Four other child abuse complaints were lodged against Barker in subsequent years, but social workers were unable to substantiate the complaints, the records show.
Jeff Hiratsuka, head of the state Community Care Licensing Division, which is responsible for licensing foster parents, could not explain why the 2002 substantiated-neglect probe did not disqualify Barker when she applied in 2005 for a child-care license and in 2009 for foster-care certification.
It was unclear whether Barker's history had not been reported to the state database by county workers, or if it had been reported and overlooked, Hiratsuka said.
