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Mother speaks after boyfriend arrested for killing 14-month-old toddler

Posted at 7:44 AM, Aug 26, 2014
and last updated 2014-08-26 14:16:09-04

OGDEN,  Utah - Authorities have arrested a 26-year-old mother's live-in boyfriend after a 14-month-old girl was found dead.Barney Ogden child death

Ogden police said 23-year-old Adam Joseph Barney is now facing charges for child abuse homicide and has two misdemeanor warrants out of Ogden.

Authorities said Barney was the one who called 911 to say a child in his care was not waking up from her nap.

Emergency crews arrived at the Western Colony Inn at 234 24th St. where they found a toddler dead.ADAM BARNEY

Two other children, a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old, were also in the home but are now in the care of authorities.

Ogden officials said Barney eventually confessed to hitting the toddler, Kenzie Rose, several times and "squeezing her substantially" which caused significant injuries.

The toddler's mother, Kaci Rupert, said Barney was taking care of the children while she worked.

Rupert said they were saving money to move into an apartment, possibly this week.

"I needed someone I could trust to be there with the kids and I didn't see this coming at all; there had been no warning signs," Rupert said. "The children always told me that, you know, he was fun, they were happy, he was great to be around."

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