Emma Leigh Barker -- Found Deceased 3/18/09

LOL, thanks Mama.....but I'm sure credit goes to J4A who probably set up that search button!! He's the smart one.

After reading more, it appears Stacey drove around with a deceased Emma Leigh in her car for hours. And, the night before her funeral it was more of a party that included beer pong. That is so distasteful considering they were going to be burying a baby the next day.

Julie and Piper, you're welcome! We'll try to post here or link back to KFP's.

Ann - Toria, Ange and TD have been to most of the hearings, ANurse has been to many too. It was like seeing old friends when I went to my first hearing and lunch with these ladies last fall - we went to the cemetery and visited lil Emma and spent the whole afternoon visiting there. It was a very emotional day. I made it back again in March, just before I left CA.

For the trial I'm planning on spending a few nights in Lancaster. It's 1 1/2 to 2 hours each way from my daughter's home and 10 hours from mine. So depending on how it works out I may break it up and spend a few nights with my DD and a few nights in Lancaster (not sure if I can stand being so close to my DGBaby and not spending some time with her too!)

This whole case has very much mirrored the events in Orlando, right down to "secret government agents" (NOT!) and a defense attorney who has tried to suppress everything, withheld possible witness statements and fought with the DA over everything, while keeping his client in Co lock-up for as long as possible - SB is now facing 25 years to Life in prison!

Tori was going to the Courthouse this morning - I'll pop back by later and let you know if the trial started or not....

Thanks for the info, LCoastMom! I found a brief article dated
4-18-11 from a TV station in Los Angeles.

I wonder why the media such as TV stations and newspapers in the area are not covering this trial. I think the case of the death of little Emma is newsworthy. Very strange!

Jury selection starts in Palmdale child death

Monday, April 18, 2011

KABC - Los Angeles, CA

PALMDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- Jury selection was set to begin Monday in the trial for a Quartz Hill mother charged with murdering her 18-month-old daughter.

Read more:

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8079284

The jury was seated by late Tuesday - opening statements this morning - followed by photos of Emma where SB left her lying in the weeds along Roxford Street & El Dorado Ave in Sylmar, this included a close up of Emma's face - after the DA made the decision not to show the jury autopsy photos.

SB's mother Sue Barker was on the stand the rest of the day - tomorrow she will be back for cross.

It was an emotional and exhausting day for Tori and the girls - I'll supply more details as they become available.

Ann - Tx wrote:Thanks for the info, LCoastMom! I found a brief article dated
4-18-11 from a TV station in Los Angeles.

I wonder why the media such as TV stations and newspapers in the area are not covering this trial. I think the case of the death of little Emma is newsworthy. Very strange!

The AV Press has been covering the story (at least through Monday 4/25) it is a subscription only site at $6.25/week for 52 weeks - I refuse to pay for it! One of the local LA stations (CBS?) was planning on being there for trial, not sure what became of that.

You're so right, makes no sense that there has been no coverage - the press literally disappeared after Emma's funeral - they reappeared when SB was arrested then when back to their hidey-holes.

Thanks for checking in Ann!

Thanks for the info, LCM!

I am so happy that this trial is finally underway. Toria and the girls are so fortunate they can attend this trial and support justice for little Emma!

I appreciate the updates. I'll bet it was a very emotional day. Viewing photographs of Emma tossed to the side of the road like garbage would be so disturbing. The DA didn't waste any time!

That's exactly what I thought Piper - Ms Cromer went straight for the jugular.

Tori said she and the girls were crying in court, SB as usual just sat there. I know defendants are told to control their emotions in front of the jury, but how does a mother sit there while pictures of her lifeless, precious baby are displayed? Stone cold...

I believe it was during opening statements that it was revealed that Emma had not a double dose of Dimetapp, but a triple dose in her system when she died. Ms Cromer said she believes that Emma was in the way of Stacey's social life and that is basically the reason she was mudered.

PD Dager said that Stacey lied and made up the cockamamie story out of fear of being seen as a bad mother and because she lived under her own controlling mother, after Emma died accidentally while Stacey played peek-a-boo with her (with a plastic baggie) not a murder, but a mistake!

Sue Barker spent Wednesday afternoon and Thursday on the stand, first answering the questions presented by DDA Kelly Cromer and later by Roberto Dager, under cross.

Mrs Barker admitted to Ms Cromer that she didn't want to testify against her daughter, but the reasons had little to nothing to do with Stacey herself. Mrs Barker has only seen her daughter one time in the last two years and only spoken to her on the phone one time. Ms Cromer asked if she didn't want to see Stacey - she replied of course I do, but I'm still angry with her. Tori and ANurse both pointed out that the only time Sue Barker looked in Stacey's direction was when she was asked if she was here in the Courtroom. In a day and a half of testimony Sue looked at Mr Dager, Ms Cromer and Judge Zackey - never once stealing a glance at her only daughter.

Ms Cromer presented Mrs Barker with the cookbook Blender Baby Food - she identified it as being the one Stacey used to make fresh baby food for Emma. Ms Cromer asked if she had handed the book over to investigators and if she did, where she found the book. She said she had given them the book and she had found it in Emma's bedroom.... (Odd place to be making baby food). Ms Cromer then walked over to the jury and pointed out that the book (a large paperback) appears to be brand new, with pristine pages that were still stuck together.

During Wednesday's testimony Ms Cromer asked Sue Barker if she had a fight with Stacey on March 18 prior to her leaving with Emma. Mrs Barker tried to down play the events of the afternoon and often had trouble remembering what had transpired.

Ms Cromer finally asked Mrs Barker what she did with Emma that afternoon and if she had fed her before Stacey left to take her to the park and if yes, what she had given her. Mrs Barker said they had been watching TV together, and she fed Emma a baby lunchable with meat, cheese and crackers. Ms Cromer followed with did you purchase the lunchable and if you did, where did you buy it. She replied that she had bought it, it came from Stater Bros. Ms Cromer then pointed out that Mrs Barker's memory is very good except where Stacey is concerned.

On Thursday when she was asked again if she remembered what the fight was about she conceded that it was a one time event due to Stacey not being home from work at the agreed upon hour. Ms Cromer had her read the transcript of the conversation she had with Det Nava - where she claimed they had been arguing frequently about the late nights and running around while the family cared for Emma.

Day 1 and 2 part two -

As the second day of testimony progressed Ms Cromer discussed Sue's interview with LE - Sue claimed she didn't know she was being recorded (didn't she see the tape recorder with mic in plan view on the table? she doesn't remember). One detail of the fight was that Sue told SB that she wanted her to move out, that she was done babysitting Emma so SB could run around and party. SB's response to this was that she couldn't please anyone, work, her mother, her boyfriend and Emma was always crying! Sue told detectives that she believed Stacey had committed the murder, she believed it was conspired between SB and BB and she thought SB went towards Long Beach with the plan on pinning the murder on Emma's daddy Anthony, Sue told Det Nava she wanted her to prove it!

As it turned out SB was not able to find out where Anthony was living, so she turned the car around in Lawndale. The story SB told LE of going to find Anthony to get money from him for an apartment was just that, Sue told the officers that SB had plenty of money including her $5,000 tax refund.

Sue told the court that she started locking her bedroom door when she slept because she was afraid that SB would murder her the same way she did Emma. SB went to stay at her grandfather's house before the funeral, she was still there in late April when LE showed up and took her into custody.

Ms Cromer asked about Stacey's behavior with boyfriends - apparently she falls fast and hard. She transforms herself into whatever she thinks the boy wants her to be. One example of this was in regards to a Hispanic boy Stacey dated - she dyed her hair black, shaved her eyebrows, drawing them back on and went to the tanning beds 5 times a week!

After meeting Witness X on the bus ride to the Courthouse SB fell into old habits, writing him 24 letters in just 1 month! SB wrote "romantic" stories, AKA porn. She told him how much she loved his tattoos and how she wanted to get some herself. She also told him she practiced telling her version of the crime, out loud in her jail cell and asked him to help her make up a better story that fit the known facts of the case!!! It should be pointed out that Witness X originally thought SB was wrongly accused but after talking with her on the bus for sometime he discovered the truth, from SB's own mouth. According to Witness X Emma was deceased before she ever left Lancaster that afternoon!

The dump scene photos of precious Emma attest to SB driving around for hours (5 to 6) with her body in the backseat of the car. Emma was in full rigor when SB took her out of the car seat and left her in 3 feet of weeds right off the Golden State FWY. (Ms Cromer said she left her there - not so someone would find the baby but so animals would get to her and destroy the evidence.)

As I mentioned previously SB has not shed tear one for her precious baby - her mother claims SB has always been a tomboy and has only cried ten times in her life!

The second witness was one of the LEOs who had seen SB at the PnR and followed her to the hospital because she claimed she had been attacked. She was found disrobed with one of her shoes in the back seat of the car and the other in the front. When asked what he observed about SB the thing that stood out was her clean manicured feet and hands - with no broken nails that one would expect to see after a vicious attack. (Ave S PnR is located yards from Lake Palmdale - right off the freeway - while it is paved it is also a dusty parking lot.)

He said SB never asked about the search for Emma, never even mentioned her name. She just complained about her aching head.

Something else that Ms Cromer brought up in opening was the "flurry of text messages" While driving to Lawndale and other parts yet unknown to us - SB was in frequent contact with BB - texting him that she and Emma were playing together at the park. In reality Emma was already deceased.

Next up - Brendan!

Many thanks to our friend Tori who after sitting in court all day was still up on the phone with me at 1130 last night. I wasn't taking notes so I hope I got this all right - we'll be talking again this weekend to get Friday's scoop - I'm sure it will be interesting...
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Wow! The similarities between this case & Casey are eerie.

Hi Julie we've only scratched the surface. One big difference is Sue Barker does not appear to be controlling in the least, but rather appears to be being controlled.

The reason she didn't want to testify is (she said) her husband will leave her if Stacey is convicted - the family blames her for being honest and candid with LE. She said SB had always been daddy's girl and she was usurped by Emma.

On cross Dager 'asked' her if she is an alcoholic and if she is on anti depressants. She admitted to both. He asked what she drinks and she said Cuervo Gold. Prior to Emma's death she would drink several shots up to a few times a week - now she drinks daily up to a fifth in an evening! Dager asked if she mixes alcohol with her medication and she admits she does - he replied "Don't you know that can kill you?"

Cromer asked why she is drinking, Sue replied she feels guilty for Emma's death.

IMO Sue Barker is one of the folks the DT threw under the bus. It's not SB's fault she made this mistake, in part it's due to her controlling mother. The woman who took care of Emma and worked the overnight shift so Emma didn't have to go to daycare.

Poor woman - at this point, she and SB's brother Nick, are the two I feel sorry for out of this whole mess.

How on earth were you able to remember all that! I'm amazed!

To Tori and ANurse


This is one cold hearted girl. I don't think her crying only 10 times in her life has anything to do with being a tomboy, she's a sociapath. Sounds as if she was always center stage. What is so interesting to me is how she (and Casey Anthony) would jump over the moon for the love and attention of a boy, but have the darkest of hearts to be able to murder her own flesh and blood because she was interfering in her life. With no emotion, no remorse.

I feel sorry for Sue Barker as well. Her pain, misery and anger will cause her to drink herself to death. Apparently, there were many fights between Sue and Stacey over her being an irresponsible parent. There is nothing wrong with trying to get your daughter to straighten up. Never in a million years did this mother think Stacey would go that far to rid herself of the "problem". I believe Cindy Anthony feels the same way, IMO. I give Sue a lot of credit for being honest and candid and being able to say in court "I'm still angry at her"...it would be very difficult to accept the fact that your daughter murdered your grandchild in cold blood, but she has accepted the cold hard truth. Has the husband been in court?

Thank you so much for all of the updates, LCoastMom! I'm looking forward to your next report!

Thanks LCoastMom for explaining that. I'm glad you're here with the updates and info.

Hi, LCoastMom!

Thank you for your excellent report and special thanks to Tori for her awesome detailed info about the testimony. She takes very good notes.

The similarities between Stacey and Casey Anthony are remarkable. It sounds like Stacey is a sociopath. I think she has ice running through her veins. I can not believe that the sight of Emma's pics did not bring Stacey to tears. She must have ice running through her veins.

LCoastMom, when the first pic of Emma Thompson was shown during Abigail Young's trial in Houston, Young had an emotional outburst. All of the Emergency Room pics and autopsy pics were horrific. The Judge had to remove the jury until Young could regain her composure. In spite of Young's many lies, at least she showed some emotion when the pics were introduced into evidence.

Stacey must have been detached emotionally from precious little Emma. I can not believe she did not break down and cry. What a cold hearted bitc$!

She is like Casey. She will do whatever to "fit" right in with her latest boyfriend. I wonder if she had several groups of friends like Casey.

I hope Stacey, this cold hearted baby killer, is found guilty and sentenced to the maximum allowed by law.

I do feel sorry for Stacey's mother. It sounds like she was a wonderful grandmother. She even arranged her work schedule so little Emma would not have to go to daycare.

LCoastMom, thank you and Tori for sharing the trial testimony with us. I looked for main stream articles about the trial yesterday and could not find any! Your report is more detailed than a reporter's could ever be!

I look forward to your next report, LCM! Many thanks to you, Tori, whoever else will be attending the trial and Katfish.

If it was not for all of you, we would not know about the efforts of the State of California vs Stacey Barker . . .

~ ~ ~ Justice for precious little Emma Barker! ~ ~ ~

This is what Tori wrote about her thoughts on Sue Barker:

I felt so sorry for her I could feel her pain and she looked like she was in a daze...this has taken a toll on her, Ange (Tori's daughter) commented that she felt like she just wanted to hug her and tell her it was NOT her fault, that she felt heartsick for this woman she did not know...a Husband that would leave her in her greatest pain for thoughts and words she said about her Daughter, A Daughter that had killed her only Grandchild, she is in great fear of losing her husband now...how sad she loses a Granddaughter, A Daughter and if SB is convicted because of her testimony she would also lose her Husband, because SB is a Daddy's girl and always has been..

Julie I didn't know how to work what we had observed or Sue Barker's emotional state into the very long day of testimony. Thank you for understanding.

I agree with all of your thoughts on SB. She is heartless - she destroyed the best thing she had ever done with her life and several other families as well.

Lancaster is a small but growing community. Our friends run into the Barker's in town and that has effected how we view certain members of the family. I have sympathy for all of them, as I could not imagine being in their shoes - but at this point I've seen and heard enough that aside from Emma, the majority of my sympathy goes to Emma's paternal family members, Sue and Nick.

During one of the last pretrial hearings, PD Dager remarked that he had a witness who he had not been able to locate. We know the attorneys are making a point when they drop these comments - on Thursday his reason was revealed when he saw Emma's paternal Gma in the gallery. He immediately called her out as a witness. She had to spend the day out of the Courtroom. (And yes he had her contact information the whole time!)

On Friday, she and Emma's daddy, Anthony took the stand. Out of respect for their wishes we are not referring to them by their last name.

A little background, Anthony and SB worked together at Country Wide (now BofA). They began dating shortly after SB started working there and she became pregnant with Emma rather quickly. Their ''relationship'' didn't last long and at some point during the pregnancy SB told him the baby wasn't his. After Emma was born SB did everything in her power to prevent Anthony and his family from having a relationship with Emma - most of his family didn't even meet Emma until her first Birthday.

According to a former friend, SB told Anthony he could only be in Emma's life if they were together. While we know the law was on his side, Anthony was dealing with substance abuse issues at the time. He now deals with the guilt of not doing enough while Emma was alive and it has all but destroyed him.

As Tori said, it was obvious that he is still kicking himself for not taking control of the situation and demanding visitation with Emma through the Courts sooner. Under questioning he said had the paperwork filled out and was waiting on his tax return to file the papers but he never got to do that because she was taken away from him forever!

OK I'll finish this after speaking with Tori, sometime this weekend.

Hi, LCoastMom!

Thank you for the update and special thanks to Tori and Ange for sharing their observations.

Stacey Barker not only took Emma from those who loved her, it seems she destroyed many family members in the process.

The Defense attorney seems like a bottom feeder to me.

~ ~ ~ Justice for little Emma Barker! ~ ~ ~

Yep Ann, we agree, we call him Snidely Whiplash - this is the same Defense attorney who called us out in court; PD Dager motioned to the ladies with a nod of his head and called them: "These DUMB, STUPID, IDIOTIC, MORONIC PEOPLE. Blog on things they don't know or things they think they know. In an effort to turn people or potential jurors against my client."

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/public-defender-emma-barker-murder-trial-calls-women-morons

In reality we've been more than fair to his client and only stated things as our opinion or stated claims have been made by certain people.

I think what has really bothered him is we have been right over and over (or damn close to it), based on what had been revealed in court. We've also kept our months shut about plenty of things that have been overheard or even stated by people who are now on the witness list.

While I admire his passion for his job, even if it means sitting next to murderers; but IMO no one has the right to tear down victims in pubic and that seems to be his MO. Like Bozo in Orlando - there is just no defense for a murdered baby.