OWEN BARKER- 3 yo/ Accused: Michael Milner - Sandusky OH

Man charged with murdering toddler

4:23 PM Jul 31 2012

A Sandusky man accused of beating to death a 3-year-old boy has been charged with murder.

Sandusky Police arrested Michael Milner, 24, after a toddler in his care was taken to Firelands Regional Medical Center with serious injuries Monday evening. The boy died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

According to police, the boy had visible injuries to his head, neck and back. Police arrested Milner on one count of endangering children and booked him into the Erie County jail with no bond until an autopsy could be performed.

Lucas County Coroners completed the autopsy on the child Tuesday, ruling the death a homicide.

As a result, police filed additional charges of murder and felonious assault against Milner on Tuesday afternoon.

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/sandusky/crime/man-charge-murder-boys-death

08/01/2012

SANDUSKY, Ohio —

A northern Ohio man has been charged with murder after police say he beat a 3-year-old boy to death.
Sandusky
police charged 24-year-old Michael Milner with murder and felonious
assault after the county coroner on Tuesday ruled the child's death a
homicide.
The Sandusky Register (http://bit.ly/QZgXDh ) reports
that the toddler, who was in Milner's care, was taken to a hospital
Monday night with visible injuries to his head, neck and back. The child
died a short time later.
Milner was arrested and jailed with no bond. Jail records did not say whether he had an attorney yet.
The relationship between Milner and victim was not clear.
___
Information from: Sandusky Register, http://www.sanduskyregister.com/cgi-bin/liveique.acgi$sch=frontpage?frontpage


http://www.whiotv.com/ap/ap/crime/ohio-man-accused-of-fatally-beating-toddler/nP749/

Threads merged

Man held, charged in boy's death in Sandusky

SANDUSKY -- A man has been arrested and charged with the death of a
3-year-old boy who was injured in a Sandusky home, authorities said
Tuesday.


The Sandusky Fire Department responded to an emergency call Monday
evening from 521 Fulton St., where they found Owen Barker with injuries
on the head, neck, and back, according to the city of Sandusky. He was
transported to Firelands Regional Medical Center, where he died a short
time later, officials said. Erie County Coroner Dr. Brian Baxter
requested an autopsy, which was performed Tuesday. The death was ruled a
homicide.


Authorities have charged Michael Milner -- whose age and address were
unavailable and who was caring for the child at the time of the
injuries -- with felony counts of assault, murder, and endangering
children. Authorities said the child's injuries were not consistent with
the report that he was hurt "tripping and hitting his head on a plastic
toy."


Mr. Milner was booked into Erie County jail with no bond, according to Sandusky Municipal Court Judge Erich O'Brien.
http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2012/07/31/Man-charged-in-death-of-3-year-old-Sandusky-boy.html

Officials claim Sandusky mom contributed to child’s death

Published: Friday, August 17, 2012
By KELLY PETRYSZYN, kpetryszyn@MorningJournal.com
@MJ_KPetryszyn



SANDUSKY — Officials are claiming the mother of a 3-year-old murdered toddler contributed to his death.

Danielle Flannery was indicted for involuntary manslaughter, permitting child abuse, obstructing justice and endangering children. She was arrested Wednesday at the Erie county Common Pleas Court that day and taken to the Erie County Jail.

Her live-in boyfriend, Michael Milner, was indicted for aggravated murder and other charges for the July 30 death of her son, Owen Barker. He is also at the Erie County Jail.

The indictment charges that Flannery permitted Barker to be “abused, tortured, administered corporal punishment or other physical disciplinary measures or physically restrained in a cruel manner or for a prolonged period.” The obstruction charge stems from the allegation that Flannery lied to the Sandusky Police Department. She also allegedly created a substantial risk to the health or safety of Barker, according to the indictment. Police declined to comment on Flannery’s indictment. She was not named as a suspect until her arrest. Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter could not be reached.

Milner was indicted for aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and endangering children. The indictment states that Milner “did purposely cause the death of Owen Barker.” The felonious assault charge states Milner knowingly caused serious physical harm to Barker and he “tortured or cruelly abused” Barker.

Flannery’s arraignment Aug. 20 in Erie County Common Pleas Court, a clerk said.

http://morningjournal.com/articles/2012/08/17/news/doc502dbfd7e4d18397714832.txt

Mother pleads innocent to charges from baby's death

Published: Wednesday, August 22, 2012
By KELLY PETRYSZYN

SANDUSKY — The mother accused of contributing to the death of her 3-year-old son, Owen Barker, pleaded innocent to charges Monday afternoon in Erie County Common Pleas Court, according to a clerk.

Danielle Flannery, of Sandusky, was indicted for involuntary manslaughter, permitting child abuse, obstructing justice and endangering children. Defense attorney John Prusak didn’t comment about the charges other than to say, “It’s still under investigation. We are waiting to get the discovery to see where the case is going to go.”

Flannery has a pretrial and bond hearing set for Sept. 17 in Erie County Common Pleas Court. She was arrested at the Common Pleas Court Aug. 15 after not being named as a suspect in the case.

The indictment charges that Flannery permitted Barker to be “abused, tortured, administered corporal punishment or physically restrained in a cruel manner or for a long period.” The charges also alleged that she lied to Sandusky police.

Her live-in boyfriend, Michael Milner, was arrested for Barker’s murder on July 30 at the couple’s Fulton Street residence. Milner, who is not Barker’s father, was indicted for murder, aggravated murder, felonious assault and endangering children. He does not have a court date yet, a clerk said. The indictment alleged that he “did purposely cause the death of Owen Barker.” Milner allegedly “tortured or cruelly abused” Barker, according to the indictment. Both are being held in Erie County Jail.

Milner called 911 on July 30 to report that Barker was not breathing. The coroner ruled his death a homicide and said it appeared Barker was beaten. Flannery was not home during the incident.

http://morningjournal.com/articles/2012/08/22/news/doc503457a892be5934669193.txt

Pleased to hear that LE has arrested the mother and is prosecuting her for allowing that monster boyfriend to torture and beat her baby to death. I hope she gets life in prison along with that scumbag.

Another POS mother.  Another POS man.  Another dead baby.

Trial set for mother, boyfriend in Owen Barker murder case



A mother and her boyfriend accused of causing a 3-year-old boy’s death could face criminal trials in the next few months.

Jessica Cuffman
Sandusky
Jan 9, 2013




Danielle Flannery, 22, appeared wearing glasses and green jail garb Monday in Erie County Common Pleas Court for a pretrial hearing.

Charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Owen Barker, her son, her case is set for trial Feb 12.

Owen died July 30 at Firelands Regional Medical Center.

Police and prosecutor’s have said the boy suffered a fatal blow to his chest that day, when he was home alone with Flannery’s boyfriend, Michael Milner, 24.

Autopsy results showed Owen suffered heavy internal and external bruising to his head, lungs and abdomen, in addition to the injury to his chest.

Milner has been charged with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and endangering children.

He could face the death penalty if convicted of the aggravated murder charge. His case is set for trial March 14.

Investigators have said they believe Flannery knew about ongoing abuse Milner inflicted on Owen.

At a brief hearing Monday, Flannery’s attorney, Michael Duff, and Erie County prosecutor Kevin Baxter discussed sharing children services records concerning Owen.

“Normally, children services records are privileged,” Baxter said. “But with the nature of this case, I’m willing to provide as much discovery as I can.”

Duff agreed to accept the records after Baxter redacts the privileged part of the investigative files.

Social workers investigated the couple at least twice before Owen was killed.

Both Milner and Flannery are incarcerated at the Erie County jail, though Flannery had earlier requested to be released before the holidays.

Judge Roger Binette declined to lower her $120,000 bond after learning that even though she’d been ordered to have no contact with Milner, she did anyway.

He reminded her in court Monday about the order.

“You’re not helping yourself by violating the court’s order,” Binette said.


http://www.sanduskyregister.com/article/abuse-and-death-owen-barker/3048056

Sandusky mother sentenced to 11 years in connection with son's death

Danielle Flannery
The Morning Journal
Posted: 03/14/14, 11:21 PM EDT |

SANDUSKY — The mother accused of contributing to the death of her 3-year-old son, Owen Barker, was sentenced late last month to serve 11 years at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, according to court records.

Danielle Flannery, 23, of Vermilion, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of permitting child abuse. According to court records, she is ordered to serve five years of probation after her release from prison.

Prosecutors had dropped charges of obstructing justice, child endangering and involuntary manslaughter in exchange for her plea.

Flannery’s son died July 30, 2012, while he was being watched by Flannery’s then-boyfriend, 25-year-old Michael Milner.

Sandusky police responded to a Fulton Street apartment July 30 after an anxious call from Milner saying that Owen “was not breathing.” Owen later died from several injuries, including abrasions and bruises on his head and neck that he allegedly received from being beaten. His death was ruled a homicide.

Flannery was not home at the time of the call, police said. Milner, who is not Owen’s father, was arrested at the couple’s Fulton Street residence.

Flannery’s attorney, Jack Bradley, wrote in her sentencing memorandum that Flannery didn’t have a sense of home or family as her parents shared hatred toward each other. He also wrote that she fell in love with Barker’s father, Kyle. In the end, Flannery and Kyle separated.

According to the sentencing memorandum, when Flannery met Milner, she began to trust him and allowed him to care for her son while she was working to provide for Owen. Flannery then started to notice bruises on the toddler and sought medical attention for him.

Bruising became more common and based on the advice of doctors, police said, Flannery convinced herself that Owen had a medical condition. While at work July 30, 2012, she received a call that her son had died.

“Danielle exercised poor judgment and made choices which she is not proud of and would take back in an instant if she could,” Bradley wrote. “Those who know Danielle best see the pain she suffers day in and day out.”

Bradley wrote that Flannery’s stepfather has described her as a loving mother who cherished her son.

“... Danielle is the product of a broken home,” Bradley wrote. “She grew up never knowing what a stable, loving home was like. All she wanted for her son was what she lacked as a child. Danielle was a working mother, trying to provide for her son and unfortunately trusted the wrong person to care for her son while she was away.”

Bradley asked for probation for Flannery.

Milner is set for a pretrial March 24. His jury trial is scheduled for May 13. He was indicted on aggravated murder and other charges in Owen’s death. Bradley said that Milner is facing the death penalty.

The indictment alleged that Milner “did purposely cause the death of Owen Barker.” Milner allegedly “tortured or cruelly abused” Owen, according to the indictment.

Bradley said he wasn’t expecting the sentence that Flannery received.

“That was a very harsh sentence and it’s going to be appealed,” he said March 14. “It was a very serious case, but I still think the sentence was extremely harsh.”

Flannery is eligible for early release after serving half of her sentence, Bradley said.


http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20140314/sandusky-mother-sentenced-to-11-years-in-connection-with-sons-death

“That was a very harsh sentence and it’s going to be appealed,” he said March 14. “It was a very serious case, but I still think the sentence was extremely harsh.”

Her son is dead.  She went out of her way to let her boyfriend have access to him, even defying a court order.  I don't think it's harsh enough considering she only has to serve half of the sentence.

Murder trials set for 2014

Jan 13, 2014


MILNER


Michael Milner, 25, called Sandusky police from his Fulton Street apartment after he fatally injured Owen Barker, his then girlfriend’s 3-year-old son, police said.

An autopsy later determined the child had been beaten—he suffered heavy internal and external bruising and a blow to his torso that punctured his heart, killing him.

Barker’s mother, Danielle Flannery, had left the boy in Milner’s care that day while she was at work. She was charged with involuntary manslaughter because police believed she was aware of ongoing abuse Owen had sustained at Milner’s hands.

In December, Flannery pleaded guilty to felony permitting child abuse, and will be sentenced Feb. 27.

Milner, meanwhile, had a trial date scheduled for today, but that has also been delayed, Baxter said.

Milner originally hired a Detroit attorney, but switched to Cleveland lawyer Jeffry Kelleher in spring of 2013, court documents stated.

Baxter said the case has been delayed to allow Kelleher time to catch up. Milner faces the death penalty, which generally requires more preparation, Baxter said.


http://www.sanduskyregister.com/article/erie-county/5173371