Mother Charged With Enabling Child Abuse

The mother of the Claremore four year old killed last April was charged on Tuesday with enabling child abuse.

Tuesday, June 3rd 2008, 9:12 pm

By: News On 6


The mother of the Claremore four year old killed last April was charged on Tuesday with enabling child abuse.  The boy's stepfather was already charged with first degree murder.  The News On 6's Ashli Sims reports a new report released on Tuesday by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services shows the agency investigated more than half a dozen abuse claims against the couple.

The 13-page report says DHS was called at least eight times in four years.  Despite the claims of bruises, busted lips, and knots on the four year old's head, the agency never confirmed any abuse.

Since Christopher Barnard's life was brutally cut short last April, family and friends have claimed there was a history of abuse.  Now, a new DHS report reveals a history of abuse allegations.

The first call to DHS came when he was just two weeks old.  Two more complaints were filed in 2004.  Another allegation was made in 2006.  And, in 2007, the agency investigated four different claims of abuse.

In 2006, child care workers told DHS, a bruised Christopher, pointed the finger at his step-father, Steven Lockler, Junior.  He's the man eventually charged with his murder.

Several staff members told a case worker that Christopher said "Daddy did it," when he was asked about a black eye.

Christopher's mother, Roxann Barnard, says another child hit him, during a family Thanksgiving gathering.  When a case worker pressed Christopher about the bruise he reportedly initially stated another child did it.  Then he reportedly grinned and stated, "mommy did it; daddy did it and you did it,"       

DHS says Christopher was taken to the emergency room nine times, but no abuse was reported.  In the end, DHS accepted Roxann Barnard's version of events and closed the investigation.

In 2007, there were a string of accusations, but the story took a new twist.  Roxann told case workers that Christopher had behavior and anger issues and he was throwing tantrums, hurting himself.

The report says three-year-old Christopher was diagnosed with Attention Deficit and

Hyperactivity Disorder and prescribed Adderall.  The report goes on to say the boy's parents were using techniques like rolling him in a blanket to help control his anger.

After a five-month investigation, the agency found no evidence of abuse.

In August of 2007, the police were called because Christopher was found unsupervised in his front yard.  Investigators asked Christopher about a mark on his left eye.  He told them, "my daddy hit me with a belt."  Later in a forensic interview, he reportedly changed his story "stating twice he hurt himself by hitting the floor."

After several weeks of interviews and home visits, the case worker again found the home to be safe.  But, she did recommend some follow-up services for Christopher and his mother, who was described as depressed.  However, DHS never did the paperwork to get the Barnards those services.    

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