A Mitchell woman has pleaded guilty to one county of felony child abuse related to a house fire that caused the death of her 6-year-old daughter in April.
Ayla Barna, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse and cruelty to a minor less than 7-years-old stemming from the deadly April 23 house fire during felony court proceedings at the Davison County Public Safety Center.
In July, Barna initially pleaded not guilty to all three of the child abuse charges she was facing.
According to Davison County State's Attorney Jim Miskimins, investigators found that one of Barna's three children who were in the home at the time of the fire started the fire, while Barna was not in the house.
Amyah Barna died as a result of the fire, while the two other children in the home were able to escape the house.
“Ms. Barna left the children without any adult supervision or care and attended a social event among other things,” Miskimins said. “It was determined that the fire was caused by one of children who were left without any appropriate or any adult supervision.”
Barna’s attorney, Zach Flood, took issue with the allegation of her attending a party at the time of the fire.
Mitchell mother of 6-year-old who died in a fire pleads guilty to child abuse charge
A Mitchell woman has pleaded guilty to one county of felony child abuse related to a house fire that caused the death of her 6-year-old daughter in April.
www.mitchellrepublic.com
Between the tears and her trembling tattooed fingers, Ayla Barna tried to recount the night her 6-year-old daughter died in a house fire.
“I am aware I made a mistake,” she said, trying to fight back her emotions. “I am aware that mistake cost me my child’s life, and I have to live with that forever.”
Barna, 25, said she was borrowing money from a friend and buying cigarettes when the rental home she lived in oncaught fire. Her three children were left home alone. Two made it out alive due to the help of a neighbor.
Amyah Harley-Lyn Barna, a kindergartner, was upstairs, directly above where the fire started. She died in the home.
“Despite what people are thinking, I was not drinking, I was not doing drugs, I was not partying,” Barna said in an interview at The Daily Republic’s office. “I wish I could take everything back, but I can’t. And I have to accept that, but that doesn’t mean I do not hurt for her. I love her so much.”
Authorities on Friday said the fire originated from a cigarette lighter. Following investigation, Mitchell police determined the children were alone inside the residence for approximately one hour prior to the fire, which was reported at about 12:17 a.m. Thursday.
She admits she is a methamphetamine addict but became sober five years ago. Mitchell and the area was a fresh start for her and her children. Her oldest daughter, Aaleiah, is 7. Her youngest, Ashton, is 4.
On Wednesday night, she and her kids had dinner and cleaned up the house. She lived in a rental property owned by Mid-Dakota Properties that’s boarded up and waiting for demolition. She said she’s broke and often stressed.
Barna said the two girls were fighting over the TV, so she asked Amyah to go upstairs and watch in a different room. Amyah turned 6 on March 7.
“It didn’t matter if she knew you or met you for the first time,” Barna said. “She was the first one to give you a hug and smile at you. She just lost her first tooth. She couldn’t help but to show everybody.”
Later that night, after Amyah and Ashton had fallen asleep, Barna said she messaged her friend asking to borrow money for a pack of cigarettes. She left, went to a nearby friend’s house where there was a bonfire being held. She grabbed the money, talked to her friend and went to a nearby gas station.
Then she got a phone call alerting her of the fire.
“Even when I did get there and I tried to run in the house, and they wouldn’t let me,” she said, referencing the fire fighters who were already at the scene.
“I saw they were upstairs but they couldn’t find her. They couldn’t find her. I don’t know how long after, but one of them came up to me and he said, ‘I’m really sorry to tell you this. We found Amyah but I’m really sorry to tell you that she’s gone.’”
Authorities on Friday said the surviving children were placed into protective custody, but Barna said they’re with family and she has spoken to her kids since the fire.
Barna said she’ll accept the charges because “there’s nothing worse that could happen to me at this point.”
“I would never wish harm on my babies and my kids. I have done everything in my life to protect and do good by them. I have worked my ass off to be a good mom compared to the person I used to be. And I’ve failed them. Completely failed them.”
‘That mistake cost me my child’s life’ — Mother says of 6-year-old who died in house fire
Between the tears and her trembling tattooed fingers, Ayla Barna tried to recount the night her 6-year-old daughter died in a house fire.
www.mitchellrepublic.com
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