Trial begins today in Madison Twp. toddler’s death

BUTLER COUNTY — TIMELINE: KINSLEY KINNER HOMICIDE

Dec. 3: Kinsley Kinner, a 2-year-old Madison Twp. girl, was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive at a Radabaugh Road house where her mother, Rebekah Kinner, and boyfriend Bradley Young resided. Kinsley died from injuries received in a severe beating at the hands of Young, according to police and prosecutors.

Dec. 4: Rebekah Kinner and Bradley Young appear in Middletown Municipal Court under heavy guard and wearing bullet-proof vests. Young is charged by the Butler County Sheriff's Office with murder and Kinner with permitting child abuse for making no attempts to come to the child's defense during Young's alleged assault.

Dec. 4: More than 50 people, many carrying "Justice for Kinsley" posters were outside Middletown Municipal Court for the arraignment of Kinner and Young. Kinsley's father, Scott Senft, and family announce that the toddler was an organ donor.

Dec. 7: Frank Schiavone IV, one of Young's defense attorneys, says they are investigating others who might be responsible for the toddler's injuries.

Dec. 8: Hundreds attend Kinsley's visitation at Vineyard Christian Church. The toddler's father asked everyone to bring a toy to honor his daughter's memory. Trucks were filled with donations to give Christmas presents to other area children.

Dec. 9: Pastor Chuck Wolfinbarger tells those crowded into the church for Kinsley's funeral that not only will her family miss her deeply, but also "a million people who never met her."

Dec. 9: Kinsley's mother, who is charge in connection with the child's beating death, was permitted to see her daughter before the funeral under the escort of the Butler County Sheriff's Office.

Dec. 10: Young and Kinner, who is pregnant, are indicted by a Butler County grand jury. Young is indicted for murder, felony endangering children and involuntary manslaughter. Kinner is indicted for involuntary manslaughter, permitting child abuse and endangering children.

Jan. 6: Court records filed by the Butler County Prosecutor's Office say Kinsley had "contusions across her head and body, subdural hemorrhage, cerebral edema and diffused bilateral retinal hemorrhages, which ultimately caused her death." The court documents also said Kinner allowed her boyfriend to "use excessive physical discipline and (failed) to seek care" for her 2-year-old daughter, Kinsley."

Feb. 1: Kinner delivers a baby boy that she names Wyatt. She returns to the Butler County Jail and Senft says he is the father. Senft vows to get custody of the baby.

Feb. 4: DNA testing determines Senft is not the father of Kinner's baby boy. A family friend of the Kinners is determined in March to be the biological father and is awarded custody.

March 18: Kinner pleads guilty as charged to involuntary manslaughter, permitting child abuse and endangering children.

April 18: Defense attorneys for Young file a motion to have all charges dropped. The attorneys claim Young's rights were violated when attorney-client phone calls were recorded at the Butler County Jail. "The Butler County Sheriff's Office and the State of Ohio have purposefully, intentionally and deliberately violated Mr. Young's constitutional right to counsel by interception and recording of his telephone conversations with his attorney," the attorneys said in the motion. Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser says there is no wrong-doing on the part of the prosecution or the sheriff's office.

April 21: The trial for Young that was scheduled toe being April 25 is postponed pending the outcome of the hearing to dismiss charges. Judge Keith Spaeth, who will preside over the trial, recuses himself from hearing the motion on the dismissal only, stating it would not be appropriate for him to preside over the trial if he heard the recordings of the attorney-client calls. A special prosecutor will also have to be appointed.

April 22: Butler County Administrative Judge Craig Hedric and Warren County Assistant Prosecutor John Arnold are appointed to the motion to dismiss hearing.

May 5: Kinner is sentenced to 11 years in prison for her part in Kinsley's death.

June 7: After a day-long hearing that included the judge listening to the recorded calls in question and the testimony of detectives stating they did not listen to the calls between Young and his attorney, Hedric rules all charges will stand against Young.

July 7: A Sept. 26 trial date is set for Young.

Source: Journal-News archives

Instead of celebrating the third birthday of Kinsley Kinner this week, the toddler's family will be in a Butler County courtroom for the trial of her mother's boyfriend, who is charged with murder, felony endangering children and involuntary manslaughter in Kinsley's death last December.

In addition to a number medical witnesses, investigators and detectives expected to take the stand in the case against Bradley Young, Rebekah Kinner, Kinsley's mother, is expected to testify. To take the stand, Kinner will be transported from prison, where she is serving an 11-year sentence after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter, permitting child abuse and endangering children in the death Kinsley.

Kinner will be a key witness in the prosecution’s case, but defense attorneys are expected to hammer her with questions to get to the truth.

The father and son defense team of Frank Schiavone IV and Frank Schiavone III say Kinner has made several contradicting statements involving the death of her daughter.

Shortly after Young’s arrest, Schiavone IV said he was “investigating other people who might be responsible” for the child’s fatal injuries.

“That could be family, friends and acquaintances. We are tracking down every lead and every rumor,” he said.

This week, closer to trial, the defense and prosecution have been quiet about the upcoming proceedings.

“It has been a very difficult time for Brad and his family,” Schiavone IV told the Journal-News. “We are looking forward to the opportunity to present a complete account of all the events leading up to and the cause of Kinsley’s death.”

There has been an outpouring of support for Kinsley’s family both on social media and at the funeral attended by hundreds who also donated toys for a toy drive in her memory. And the Pray for Kinsley/Justice for Kinsley Facebook page has more than 23,000 followers.

The attention has raised some question with the defense attorneys about the ability to seat a fair and impartial jury.

“There is a worry that people feel very strong about this case and cannot be fair and impartial,” Schiavone IV said.

Butler County Common Pleas Judge Keith Spaeth has called for 70 perspective jurors. More can be called, he said, if a jury is not seated today.

Young’s trial is anticipated to last seven to 10 days.

Kinsley died Dec. 3 after suffering a fatal beating at her Madison Twp. home, allegedly at the hands of Young.

In a 911 call, Kinner told county dispatchers: “My daughter, she is coming in and out of consciousness, and she is not breathing right now.”

On the recording, dispatchers are heard talking a man through how to administer CPR to the little girl. Kinner, who was crying, said, “She went to bed and she woke up screaming at the top of her lungs twice, and now we can’t get her to wake up.”

During questioning, Kinner told detectives she saw Young shake and punch her daughter the night before she was found unresponsive.

Kinner, who was pregnant at the time of her daughter’s death, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for not stopping the abuse of her daughter.

At her sentencing, Kinner’s defense attorney, Kyle Rapier, said she was “brutally” raped at age 13 and suffers from PTSD and other disorders as a result.

“ … part of the reason she failed to protect her daughter and herself is because of some of her experiences in her life,” Rapier said.