Genevieve Barea - Murder of 7 y.o. Loreyna Barea - 2/2008
Complete arrest affidavit in the death of 7-year-old Loreyna Barea May 24, 2007 STATE OF COLORADO COUNTY OF WELD SS. AFFIDAVIT Evans police 070520 In support of a request for the issuance of a warrant for the arrest of Genevieve Barea, hereinafter referred to as Defendant Genevieve Barea, the undersigned affiant, being first duly sworn upon oath, deposes and says: Your affiant has knowledge of the following facts from which there is probable cause to believe the offense(s) hereinafter described as Child Abuse Resulting in Death 18-6-401 (7) (a) (I), was committed by the Defendant Defendant Genevieve Barea between and including March 7 and March 9, 2007, at 3504 Marigold Street in the City of Evans, County of Weld, State of Colorado, to-wit: Your affiant is a peace officer for the Evans Police Department and has gained the following information by reading the reports of fellow officers, the statements of the victim and witnesses, and through personal investigation. On March 9, 2007 at approximately 2:34 am, Officers responded to 3504 Marigold Street, City of Evans, County of Weld, and State of Colorado on a report of a 7 year old female who was possibly deceased. When Officers arrived, Paramedics and Fire Department personnel were already on scene. The seven year old female, Victim Loreyna Barea was pronounced dead at 2:47 am. Detective Wolf and Weld County Coroner Chris Robillard were notified of the death of Victim Loreyna Barea and arrived on scene shortly thereafter. Detective Wolf and Chris Robillard observed the body of Victim Loreyna Barea which appeared to be very thin. They also observed Victim Loreyna Barea hands and feet were positioned in an unnatural state: The hands were bent inward from the wrist down while the fingers were folded inward from the knuckles down in a clenched state and the feet were very stiff with her toes clenched inward towards the bottom of the feet. Victim Loreyna Barea was fully clothed wearing a long sleeve sweatshirt and sweatpants. The sweatpants were pulled up to the knees revealing two visible bruises on each shin area. Detective Wolf and Coroner Robillard contacted the permanent legal custodians of Victim Loreyna Barea, Defendant Genevieve Barea and Dan Dwane Partch. The entire family consists of Genevieve Barea, Dan Dwane Partch, deceased 7 yr old Victim Loreyna Barea, and four other children: (names redacted, ages 13, 11, 9 and 6). Defendant Genevieve Barea and Dan Dwane Partch adopted (two of the children in 2003). They are permanent legal custodians of Victim Loreyna Barea (and the other two children) who have been in their care for approximately two years. The children were home schooled and do not have contact with other children. Defendant Genevieve Barea and Dan Dwane Partch (stated) Victim Loreyna Barea had been ill on March 7, 2007 prior to her death. They had also said that on March 7, 2007 victim Loreyna Barea had a bicycle accident where she had fallen off of her bicycle. She was displaying symptoms consisting of high fever, vomiting, and spasms in the feet and hands. Both Defendant Genevieve Barea and Dan Dwane Partch stated victim Loreyna Barea had complained of being extremely tired, pain in her legs and the strange occurrence with her fingers and hands posturing which began Wednesday night March 7, 2007 and continued into Thursday, March 8, 2007. It was on March 8, 2007 where victim Loreyna Barea's fingers began seizing and Defendant Genevieve Barea and Dan Dwane Partch mentioned that when the other children were assisting with the care of Victim Loreyna Barea each one of them attempted to pry her fingers to a straight position but were unable to as once they were straightened, the fingers would clench up again. Defendant Genevieve Barea and Dan Dwane Partch advised they were going to take Victim Loreyna Barea to the Emergency room the following day if her symptoms persisted. Due to the circumstances surrounding the death of Victim Loreyna Barea, an autopsy was scheduled on the body of Victim Loreyna Barea on March 9, 2007 at approximately 12:30 pm at McKee Medical Center in Loveland Colorado. The autopsy was conducted by Forensic Pathologist, Dr. John Carver, and assisted by Deputy Coroner Robillard. Detectives Roosevelt and Wolf observed the autopsy on victim Loreyna Barea. As the autopsy began, Coroner Robillard and Dr. John Carver proceeded to remove the clothing from the body of Victim Loreyna Barea. It became apparent the body of the child was not in a natural, healthy or normal state. The body of Victim Loreyna Barea contained numerous visible contusions and abrasions. The contusions and abrasions on Victim Loreyna Barea's body were of various shapes and sizes consisting of recent and old ones. The autopsy results disclosed approximately 7 contusions and 4 abrasions in the head and neck area, 11 contusions and 8 abrasions in the thorax and abdomen area, 31 contusions and 7 abrasions on the extremities for a total approximation of 49 contusions and 19 abrasions throughout the body of Victim Loreyna Barea. Due to the emaciated state of Victim Loreyna Barea’s body, one could see her hip joints, knee joints, ribs, rib cage, and back bones which were clearly visible under her skin. It was also discovered by Dr. John Carver that Victim Loreyna Barea had a torn frenulum on the upper lip area as well as lacerations and contusions of the upper inner lip. There was an abnormality in Victim Loreyna Barea’s skin elasticity as Dr. Carver pinched the skin on Victim Loreyna Barea’s stomach area and the skin did not return to normal which according to Dr. John Carver were indicative of signs of severe dehydration. Victim Loreyna Barea’s height was approximately 49 inches, placing her in the 43rd percentile for her age. Her weight was approximately 34.8 lbs, placing her in less than the 3rd percentile for her age. Dr. John Carver stated she was extremely emaciated. There was also a blunt impact to the abdomen resulting in a duodenal wall hematoma and there was a hemorrhage behind the right eye. Dr. Carver’s autopsy report was completed and determined the manner of death was homicide. The cumulative injuries and lack of medical attention from all of the above resulted in the death of the child. Dr. Carver stated to Detective Roosevelt, "There was no doubt in my mind that if she had been seen by a doctor she would still be alive". During the initial interview in the early morning hours of March 9, 2007, Defendant Genevieve Barea and Dan Dwane Partch stated they were not aware of injuries or bruises on Victim Loreyna Barea. They stated she was a very happy child who had fallen sick the day before. Defendant Genevieve Barea had admitted to giving victim Loreyna Barea bath hours before she died and Dan Dwane Partch had stated Victim Loreyna Barea had vomited on her shirt and he had to have her change her shirt right before she went to bed. Both custodial parents saw her body naked hours before she died and stated she did not have any bruises or abrasions. Victim Loreyna Barea had been exhibiting symptoms such as vomiting, hands and feet clenching, high fever, and severe dehydration. Defendant Genevieve Barea and Dan Dwane Partch did not take the children to a medical doctor for regular check ups for illnesses for approximately two years or since the time they took over custodial rights to the children. The children were home schooled therefore there was not a school authoritative figure to step in and see what was occurring with Victim Loreyna Barea. Upon doing a neighborhood canvass of the area around the residence 3504 Marigold, the majority of the neighbors did not see the children outside and some did not even know there were children residing in that residence. (The four surviving children) were initially interviewed after being placed into protective custody on March 9, 2007 which was the same day as the autopsy. Several of the children gave the same statements as to how Victim Loreyna Barea may have received the scrape on her chin: all of them said she had fallen off of a bicycle but did not see any bruises on Victim Loreyna Barea nor did Victim Loreyna Barea complain about any injuries. Each one made the unsolicited statement of "There is no hitting in our home" when asked about the bicycle incident. The children were placed into a foster home and a second interview with the children was done after two weeks of being placed in foster care. Their statements on the second interview March 23, 2007, were inconsistent with their first interview where all contacts with Defendant Genevieve Barea and Dan Dwane Partch were under supervised visitations twice a week. The second interview with each child was on March 23, 2007. The children admitted to seeing bruises on Victim Loreyna Barea’s body but could not give a reason as to how she received the bruises. While interviewing (one child) he made the statement that Defendant Genevieve Barea had given him and (another child) "a test". The test consisted of Defendant Genevieve Barea asking them this question: "Do we hit you" and they had "passed the test" because they responded to Defendant Genevieve Barea by saying "No, we don’t get hit". (The child) also mentioned a lock that was on the outside of one of the bedroom doors. He said the lock was placed on the outside of the door when "timeouts" were used as a form of discipline. Your affiant respectfully requests an arrest warrant be issued for Defendant Defendant Genevieve Barea for the aforementioned charges based on the above information. Defendant Defendant Genevieve Barea is an American Indian Female, born on January 3, 1962. Defendant Genevieve Barea is 5’02" tall and weighs 140 pounds. Defendant Genevieve Barea has Brown hair and Brown eyes. Defendant Genevieve Barea’s last known address is 3504 Marigold Street, in the City of Evans, Weld County, Colorado. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5554324,00.html

Failed by safety net, kids die under social services' watch By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News September 29, 2007 Correction This story and headline about the state review of four child abuse deaths should have made it clear that local human service agencies had concluded their monitoring of the children's care in at least three of the cases before the deaths occurred. Neveah Gallegos and Chandler Grafner aren't the only children who were killed this year after hitting the social services radar. At least three children have died while their care was monitored by county human services agencies. Seven-year-old LoReyna Barea died March 9 after Weld County Department of Social Services placed her in the custody of her aunt, Genevieve Barea, 45, of Evans. The girl weighed 35 pounds and had almost 50 bruises on her body at the time of her death, authorities said. The aunt and her husband, Dan Partch, 47, have been charged with child abuse resulting in death. The State Department of Human Services is reviewing how county social services handled the Barea case. That investigation, called a child fatality review, is expected to be completed in a couple of weeks, said Liz McDonough, state human services spokeswoman. State DHS just launched a review of how the Denver Department of Human Services handled 3-year-old Neveah Gallegos, who's body was found Monday in a west Denver ravine. Her mother's boyfriend, convicted sex offender Angel Ray Montoya, 22, is in custody awaiting formal charges in the girl's death. The mother, Miriam Gallegos, 20, also faces accessory charges. Denver human services, which knew last year of sex abuse allegations involving Montoya and the girl, has asked for a third-party investigation of its child welfare practices. That investigation will be done by state human services and two foundations that have expertise in child abuse. It is separate from the child fatality review. Child fatality reviews are conducted by a 15-member panel, which includes a doctor, psychologist, child welfare consultant and attorney general's office staffer. The rest of the team is made up of state and county human services employees. The panel investigates child abuse deaths that occurred after having contact with social services within five years of the death. They do not investigate all of these deaths, but pick cases that can help bring attention to ways to improve child welfare practices, said coordinator Susan Ludwig. The team typically completes three reviews each year. This year, the group finished reviews of the deaths of Chandler Grafner and Shay Smith. Chandler, 7, died May 6 while in the care of his stepfather in south Denver. Jon Phillips, 27, and his common law wife, Sarah Berry, 22, are accused of starving the boy to death and have been charged with murder. The review, released Aug. 28, found that human services agencies in Jefferson and Denver counties made poor judgments and violated six regulations during their involvement. Shay, 2, drowned in Carter Lake in Larimer County in July 2006 while being pulled in a tube by a boat driven by his father, Gil Smith, who was intoxicated. The father, of Longmont, served a brief prison sentence and probation for the boy's death. He has since been arrested twice for alcohol-related offenses. Boulder County Department of Social Services went to the boy's home in July 2005 and obtained a written promise from the father that he would not be alone with his children while drinking. The state review, completed July 31, said, while "there were some weaknesses," that Boulder County social services followed rules and regulations. kimm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2361 http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5710242,00.html

Evans man pleads not guilty in connection with girl's death Staff Reports October 18, 2007 An Evans man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to child abuse charges stemming from the death of a 7-year-old girl he was caring for. Dan Partch, 47, is charged with child abuse resulting in death. His girlfriend, 45-year-old Genevieve Barea, pleaded not guilty the same charge in the death of 7-year-old LoReyna Barea. Both could face up to 24 years in prison if convicted. Partch will stand trial in March, while Barea is scheduled to stand trial in early February. A coroner determined after an autopsy that the girl, who weighed just 35 pounds at the time of her death, had nearly 50 bruises on her body when she died. Prosecutors have argued that she would have survived if Partch and Genevieve Barea had sought medical help. They said that the girl had been sick and that her hands and feet had been seizing before her death. The two guardians told police that LoReyna was a clumsy child who frequently had scrapes and bruises. They also said the girl had been ill and vomiting for about two days, but that LoReyna said she was beginning to feel better. Partch and Genevieve Barea remain in custody at the Weld County Jail, and four other boys that had been in their care remain in a foster home. http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20071018/NEWS/110170167/0/FRONTPAGE

No tears were shed for dead 7-year-old David Young, (Bio) dyoung@greeleytribune.com January 4, 2008 There were no tears shed over the death a 7-year-old girl who weighed just 35 pounds when she died, a former Evans police officer testified Thursday Moments after he entered the home where LoReyna Barea died, former Evans police officer Raymond Vasquez knew something wasn't right. "The whole thing just didn't feel right." Vasquez said. "It was just a feeling I had that nothing was fitting." Vasquez was on the scene in March 2007 when LoReyna Barea died in the basement of the home she shared with her aunt, Genevieve Barea. Genevieve Barea, 45, and her boyfriend, Dan Partch, 47, are charged with child abuse resulting in death of LoReyna. Both have pleaded not guilty. At a pretrial motions hearing Thursday, Vasquez described arriving on scene to find paramedics performing CPR on LoReyna, who was lying face up in the basement wearing a wet shirt and had visible bruises on her shins. Vasquez testified that when a paramedic told Partch there was nothing more they could do for LoReyna, he responded "Oh, really?" An autopsy found that the girl had nearly 50 bruises on her body when she died. Prosecutors have argued that she would have survived had Partch and Genevieve Barea sought medical help. They said the girl had been sick and that her hands and feet had been seizing before her death. Vasquez also found a bedroom with a latch lock on the door, and a pink shirt and jeans in the washing machine, which he noted when he said things didn't feel right. During his testimony, Vasquez struggled to recall facts from memory, and repeatedly had to refer to his notes -- so much so that the judge removed Vasquez from the stand to give him the opportunity to read his report. http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20080104/NEWS/868703162

LoReyna Barea's brother talks in police tape David Young, (Bio) dyoung@greeleytribune.com March 7, 2008 Mere hours after learning that his 7-year-old sister is dead, Ryan Barea sits in a small interrogation room with George Roosevelt, a detective with the Evans Police Department, talking about nightmares. Ryan Barea, 11, pops open his dream-catcher, telling Roosevelt he puts all his bad dreams in catcher where they remain never to return. Moments later Roosevelt asks Ryan Barea about a real-life nightmare: The death of his sister LoReyna Barea who died of blunt force injury and acute dehydration. The scene played out before jurors Thursday in the Dan Partch trial as prosecutors played the police interviews with LoReyna's brothers. Partch and his wife Genevieve Barea, who were caring for the children on March 9, 2007 when the death occurred, are charged with child abuse resulting in death. Both face facing 48 years each in prison if convicted. Genevieve Barea is set to return to court for a pretrial hearing later this month. Ryan held back tears in the interview as he told Roosevelt his biggest fear was having to go to foster care. He described his last moments with his sister as not knowing what was wrong. "I don't even know what to think, she just started throwing up," said Ryan Barea, who said LoReyna Barea had fallen off her bike and hit her stomach on the handle bars. Defense attorneys have stated she sustained her injuries in a bike crash. He also said she fell running and scraped her chin. When asked about lacerations to LoReyna's lip, Ryan Barea said she must have got the injury jumping on the futon. In an interview with police detective Rita Wolf, Ryan Barea said they were a nice happy family, and that he never misbehaved. In the recorded interviews, Ryan Barea said his sister never fell down the stairs, had skin cold to the touch, could put her legs behind her neck, and rarely played with anybody except her brothers. He said the day before LoReyna Barea died, she woke up sick and vomited. That night, she had pink cake, her favorite color, and ice cream. "If you felt them (LoReyna Barea's feet) they were cold as ice," Ryan Barea said. He said Partch carried his sister down stairs and he went to bed about 9 p.m., which contradicted with accounts from Partch and Genevieve Barea who said he went to bed earlier, Wolf said in the interview. Both detectives asked if Ryan Barea had spoken with anyone or been told what to say. He said no, and then admitted he talked with his family a little about the death. On numerous occasions in both interviews, detectives asked if he was telling the truth. He always said yes. Jurors also watched a recorded interview with Logan Barea who told Wolf on the tape he thought his sister was going to be all right, and that Partch planed to take her to the doctor the following day if she wasn't better. Logan Barea told Wolf that LoReyna Barea had vomited up to 15 times that he was aware of. When Wolf asked him about the bruises on the girl, he said he saw bruises on her arms but not legs, and noted she almost always wore long sleeve shirts. Logan Barea also mentioned in their recorded interview they would give LoReyna Barea a cup of warm water to hold to help her open her hands, which were clenched shut. Dan Partch's child abuse resulting in death trial continues today. LoReyna Barea died on March 9, 2007 of blunt force injury and acute dehydration. Some of her brothers are expected to testify in court today. http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20080307/NEWS/453731578/-1/rss02