Oakland woman charged in infant's death ran since-shuttered child care business

Lisa Barney, the Oakland woman charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 4-month-old infant last year, operated a licensed family day care out of her Oakland home.

Lisa Barney Photo courtesy of Kennebec County Correctional Facility

Little Angel Family Daycare, located at 121 Allagash Drive, which was owned and operated by Barney, 54, closed its doors the day the manslaughter allegedly occurred, and parents were asked to pick up their children, according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees licensing of child care providers.

The daycare reopened for a short time a few days later, before Barney agreed to a request from the state to close the facility again. Barney’s license has since expired.

Barney was arrested Sept. 20 after a yearlong investigation into the death of a 4-month-old infant on Sept. 8, 2023, according to a news release from Lt. Aaron Turcotte, Troop Commander of the State Police. Maine.

Turcotte said the incident that led to the manslaughter charge occurred in Oakland on Aug. 31, 2023. Eight days later, an autopsy on the child was performed by the medical examiner’s office in chief of Augusta. The child’s death was ruled a homicide, but the cause of death has not been released.

DHHS officials confirmed this week that Barney was licensed as a home child care provider from May 22, 1997 until her license expired on November 16, 2023.

On August 31, 2023, the day the manslaughter allegedly occurred, DHHS Child Licensing and Investigations officials received a report regarding Barney’s licensed daycare. “The provider asked all parents to pick up their children that day and remained closed from Friday, September 1st until the following Monday, September 4th, which was Labor Day,” according to an email from Lindsay Hammes , a DHHS spokesperson, in response to an inquiry into Barney’s child care license.

Hammes said Barney reopened its daycare, which was licensed for up to eight children, on Sept. 5, 2023, but then agreed to a request from DHHS to voluntarily close the operation that day.

The facility remained closed until Barney’s license expired. She did not submit an application for license renewal.

Barney was indicted for involuntary manslaughter by a Kennebec County grand jury on September 19. An arrest warrant was issued and she was charged the next day at 9:15 a.m. by Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit detectives, who charged her with involuntary manslaughter.

Barney was initially jailed at the Kennebec County Correctional Center in Augusta on $100,000 bail. She was released on bond on September 20, the same day of her arrest, according to a jail official, with the bond being a $100,000 lien on the property. Her bail conditions include that she have no contact with anyone under the age of 18.

The child has not been identified by authorities except for his date of birth listed in the involuntary manslaughter indictment.

The indictment states that on or about August 31, 2023, “Lisa Barney recklessly or criminally negligently caused the death of another human being.”

Barney’s residence is listed in court documents as the same address as the former daycare.

Barney first appeared in court on September 20. His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 3, according to court records.

Involuntary manslaughter is a Class A charge punishable by up to 30 years in prison.