A Mobile family is reeling after a woman was found dead outside her burning Cedar Avenue home — and her 16-year-old brother was charged with her murder.
Firefighters responded to the home early Tuesday morning after reports of a fire, with flames visible from the back of the house. After knocking the fire down, crews discovered Danica “Pebbles” Barney’s body outside. Hours later, police arrested her son, Terrance Barney Jr., charging him with murder and arson. His bond was set at $175,000.
Daughter Questions What Happened
Barney’s daughter, Kristen Howard, said she is struggling to reconcile the charges with the brother she knows.
“How did we allow this to happen? God forbid it is my brother, that it was him that did this, how did we miss the signs of the help that he needed?” Howard said.
Howard recently learned her brother had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had stopped taking his medication, though she stressed it is unclear whether his mental health played any role in what happened to their mother.
According to Howard, investigators told the family that Barney was killed in a bedroom, dragged out the back door and set on fire, which caused the blaze. She said police also told her Terrance had blood on his clothes when interviewed. He has maintained his innocence.
“There are a lot of things that don’t add up,” Howard said, while acknowledging that her work as a social worker with patients who have schizophrenia gave her a sober view of what her brother might be capable of.
Howard said she remains supportive of her brother: if he is responsible, she wants him to get the help he needs; if not, she hopes police will clear his name by finding whoever is responsible. Barney’s autopsy results were still pending.