BARTON COUNTY – A suspect arrested in connection with the death of a woman in the rural Barton County community of Claflin has a previous history of violence with the victim.
According to online court records, 60-year-old Barry Kearns was charged in October of last year on two counts of aggravated domestic battery on Sept. 9 and 25, with the deceased victim, whose name has not been released, listed as the victim.
In March of this year, Kearns signed a 12-month diversion agreement on those charges. The Barton County Attorney's Office filed a motion to reinstate those charges, with a hearing set for Aug. 3.
At approximately 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, officers with the Claflin Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of East Hamilton Avenue to conduct a welfare check, according to a media release from the KBI. The check was requested after a family member reported they had not heard from a female resident of the home in over a week.
Upon arrival, officers made contact with Barry Kearns. While conducting a welfare check inside the home, officers discovered blood and secured the residence. Due to the presence of multiple dogs, law enforcement coordinated with local animal control to safely remove the animals. During this process, the body of a deceased female was discovered inside the attached garage.
Claflin police officers arrested Kearns on an initial requested charge of second-degree murder. Kearns was booked into the Barton County Jail and was to make a court appearance on Friday.