Adam Barney was fifteen years old living in Texas when he would murder his mother
According to court documents Adam Barney would attack his mother with a hammer, striking her repeatedly before choking her. The fatal attack was caught on surveillance video
The video was so brutal that the Judge only allowed portions of it to be seen by the jury
Adam Barney would be tried as an adult, convicted and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for thirty years
Adam Barney Photos
Adam Barney FAQ
Where is Adam Barney now
Adam Barney is currently incarcerated at the Ellis Unit in Texas
When is Adam Barney release date
Adam Barney is serving life in prison and is not eligible for parole until 2051
Adam Barney Sentencing
A Collin County jury sentenced a 17-year-old to life in prison Thursday for bludgeoning his mother inside their McKinney home last year.
Adam Barney pleaded guilty to murder in the death of Stacy Barney. He was 15 when he hit his 50-year-old mother with a hammer and choked her Jan. 3, 2021. Testimony in his sentencing trial began Tuesday.
The jury deliberated for nearly three hours before reaching its decision, according to court records. Jurors weighed a sentence of five to 99 years in prison or life in prison
Home surveillance video captured the attack that lasted several minutes. The teen is seen going into the garage and retrieving a hammer and screwdriver, according to testimony at hearings last year over whether Barney would be tried as an adult. He then went into the living room, where Stacy Barney was sitting on the couch, and struck her repeatedly on the head with the hammer.
State District Judge Andrea Thompson only allowed portions of the video to be shown to the jury. At a hearing last week, defense attorney April Steele said the video is “so shocking” jurors “would not be able to entertain other evidence.”
Prosecutor Christina Skipper said the video shows Barney’s demeanor while carrying out the crime, overkill and premeditation.
Steele, Barney’s lawyer, said in a statement Thursday the “jury chose not to see past the severity of the conduct.”
“While respecting the decision of the jury, the defense team did our absolute best to humanize our client by presenting an extensive history of mental health challenges and sexual abuse suffered by a 15-year-old boy,” the statement said.
Testimony at the hearings last year revealed the boy had been in and out of residential treatment facilities and juvenile detention throughout his life. Barney reported that he was sexually abused during a stay in a rehabilitation center and alleged a former McKinney ISD educator performed sexual acts on him.