Found Body of Toddler Emma Leigh Barker, Autopsy to Identify Girl

I am from that area, and as soon as I heard about this news, visions of Caylee Anthony came to mind. Both of these tots were born to young single women who liked to party, and live with their parents so they have a built in babysitter.

Stacey Barker's actions reeked of guilt. If it was "just an accident" why would she go to such extremes to lie and make up such a contrived story? Killer Anthony did the same thing. Someone who is innocent wouldn't think of themselves and worry about getting blamed for something that they didn't do that resulted in the death of their baby. They would be hysterical, and call 911, hoping that their baby could be saved. All this creature did was try and cover her self so that she wouldn't be blamed. That is not the actions of an innocent person. She went so far as to "stage" this act to look like an abduction. I'm surprised she didn't wait for 30 days to report this and claim amnesia for her 'alibi" On top of her vile cover up, she then threw her baby away off the freeway like a bag of trash! No way should she get by with this.

Thank you, Syn! I agree with every thing you said. WHY is the media not covering this??? It has been over a month and everyday I search for new news on Emma.  I've emailed a TON of media and still no responses. Are Stacey's parents influential, is that why this has been swept under the rug?  I will still keep sending my emails until someone looks into this!! Rest in peace, Emma, you did not deserve to be discarded like trash.

this is so interesting that there is no updates on this case.  we get daily updates on casey anthonys every move... what is going on????

Stacey Barker was FINALLY arrested today. She is being held on $1 million bond.

Your welcome Cat. WS, and thank you too! Yes, I did see that she was finally arrested. I guess they wanted to wait on the autopsy results, although they are ordered to keep quiet about the case because it's under a "security hold". Thanks for posting that info right away, as many others might not be aware of this.

I agree with what you posted about the media, and lack of coverage. They should have kept this story in the public eye, giving it more attention. I don't know what the big cover-up is about. No, her parents aren't influential as far as I know, but maybe some relative or friend is. I agree that she sure isn't getting hounded, or bad publicity

I see of course that our "hunches" were right on. All of her actions pointed towards guilt- not "accident".

What a shame that someone called "mother", are capable of killing their innocent babies. I'm quite sure her parents, and her brother too, would gladly have raised and loved Emma. I hope that the family doesn't follow the same path as the Anthony's, and refuse to believe in their daughter's guilt!

Syn, I belong to a crime forum and several of us were so outraged that we sent emails to 30+ media outlets every day for a few weeks.  We just wanted someone, ANYONE, to do some investigating while we were waiting for the autopsy results. When this first happened, and Stacey admitted that she lied, I immediately thought of Caylee. Then, after doing some research, I realized how similiar the circumstances were.

I have also been sending emails to Nancy Grace.  I thought she would be all over this! It's strange the way some cases are so important to the public and some aren't. I never followed true crime until Caylee, she is the reason I joined Websleuths, and this is the only case that I've become obsessed with since Caylee. As a mom of 3 boys, ages 4, 3 & 3, I cannot fathom what some mothers do. Stacey had the love and support of her parents and her brother, for Heaven's sake, her mom worked nights so Emma wouldn't have to go to daycare!! I feel awful for them. Court is Monday, I pray some media will be there.                             

Cat,

What a coincidence, I too belong to a crime forum, and just like you, joined because of Caylee. I never joined or researched before then.

This latest story hit home since most of my family still live in that area, and I grew up there, so of course I heard about it right away. Before any mention of her recanting, I believed her to be lying, and that she was responsible for baby Emma's death.

Yes, her arraignment was Monday morning, and she was rightly so, charged with murder. As you probably know by now, she suffocated  Emma.

Just like you think, I don't see why this doesn't get near the media coverage as other cases, and you'd think Nancy Grace would have taken an interest in this case since it does have many similarities to Caylee's. 

I can't understand either, how these monsters can do that too their children, especially when they have such family support to turn to, and I'm quite sure would gladly have raised Emma.

Unfortunately S.B. has ruined the lives of many people, and her parents and brother's lives will never be the same, and caused the death of her sweet baby girl. What a tragedy.

Well, happy "sleuthing" Cat. Thank you for your info about trying to get more attention out there, and for your info in joining WS.

Cat,

Nancy Grace finally has coverage on Baby Emma's death! I guess your repeated emails got through! I wanted to call in and help, because they got some of the details wrong. I never could get through.

I see you've also been on that KTLA blog like I have, and replied to Amber B. She really is quite delusional. She keeps posting like others are attacking the Barker family, which is not true! No one has said anything against them, quite the opposite, in saying that their prayers are with the family.

I'm glad that this tragic story is getting more coverage and others are aware now.

The posters at my crime forum have also been covering this from the day Emma was gone.

Im so sick of these so called mothers killing their children. If they dont want them put them up for adoption,or let their famlies have them,since it seems that the last two little girls were taken care of by their grandparents. I cant see how they can do these horrible acts and think its ok and try to cover it up with Zanny the nanny and some stranger. Those little girls were so beautiful and didnt deserve to be dumped like yesterdays trash. Its all so very sad.

Max Shines,

Thank you for your insightful post. I've posted on other sites that I felt she would be watched, and that most likely, there were reasons for releasing her, to others who couldn't believe that she was let go.

With so many shocked by the death of this beautiful baby girl that pointed to the mom being responsible, and not getting any follow-ups, many were wondering what the outcome was.

I also assured friends and family who live in the AV, that in my opinion, Officials were crossing the T's and dotting the I's.

I'm also guessing that her cell phone records aren't the only source of info that they have gathered. These are all just assumptions on my part.

Thank you for sharing your law info, it's quite enlightening.

P.S. One of my classes I'm taking is Criminal Investigations.

I'm so glad I came back here to check the comments! Syn! Did you do cartwheels like I did when Nancy Grace had Emma on her show??!! I was on cloud 9. All of us who previously sent e-mail to her, sent her thank you ones last night.  This is all I wanted, for Emma's case to be national news, she certainly deserves that. I was shocked to hear Nancy say that Stacey should be charged with Murder 1, wonder if the charges will be upgraded. After Nancy had Emma's case on last night, the Emma thread had so many hits from other members who hadn't even heard of this case.  So now, there are even more people researching. It just goes to show you that when people join together for good, good things happen.

This is another sad story.  Mothers are surpose to be PROTECTORS not KILLERS / MONSTERS of our own children which are a HUGE blessing from GOD.  There is no EXCUSE for this - because she knew it was wrong thus reason for the lies.  No child should have to be subject to this type of treatment. She was a beautiful little girl now an angel. I'm so tired of hearing that the mother suffered from mental illnes, depression, etc.  Look at the economy we are all going through sometime of hardship and we do not KILL. I love my daugther - she brightens up my day - its all worth it for HER. The poor child probably looked mommy in the eyes with a smile before she was killed. 

Thank you Syn.  I would have missed both of Max Shines post if you hadn't mentioned it. I see you've been at KTLA.com, thank's for the kind things you said about me!  Amber was MIA for a couple of days, I thought she had come to terms with the reality, but no.  There is a new post and she stated that Emma did 'choke' on a ziploc bag. I am so grateful for Nancy's coverage and am hoping that she addresses the similarities between Caylee & Emma's cases. Back to the choking, this is where I stand.  If your child 'accidentally' dies in your care, do you then toss her body on the side of the road? THAT is why I'm not believing the claim of accident. Just like with Caylee's case, what mother waits 31 days to report her child missing? How many more days would have passed if not for Cindy calling? That is what prevents my mind from believing accident.

Max Shines, WOW, is all I can say about your 2 incredibly informative comments! Your explanations are so easy to understand and I have a better understanding of how these things work.  I am new to following true crime cases. I used to live my life in blissful ingnorance, but then came Caylee. I could not get her out of my mind. I joined a crime forum that my sister has been a member of for a very long time and read and listened and learned from seasoned members on Caylee's forum. I read and/or post there everyday.  Then came the day that I clicked on Emma's thread, and I was taken in again. I don't quite understand why certain cases affect certain people, because since joining WS I have read more apalling stories concerning children than I care to mention.  These 2 little girls just touched my heart, for whatever reason and I pray to see justice for both.

Thank you Max Shines and Cat for your very nice responses. Max, I would like to offer my sympathies to you for somehow, having this tragedy effect you too. I see both Cat and I greatly appreciate your thought provoking posts. That is very kind of you to come here and provide us with some insights to this disturbing crime.

Yes Cat, I stumbled upon that KTLA site from a link at my "crime forum". I know that W/S is an excellent site too, (Just like my crime forum is too-LOL), but one site is almost more than I can handle, and I never would have considered joining any site or even posting anywhere, until my cousin kept telling me about how much info is on these sites, and she wanted me to join. After awhile I finally worked up enough nerve and started posting. Now here I am posting away on other sites.

As for Amber, she's going to believe what she wants to hear. That comment she made about letting her children (they have to be young since she's Stacey's age) play with bouncies, marbles, and things that a child can choke on, to me sounds very careless and down right stupid. I had to reply to that with saying that I don't even let my pets get a hold of anything that they might choke on, or may be a hazard.

Another poster also wrote that they wouldn't be charging Stacey with Murder 2 if it were only an accident. That, I believe makes more sense.

I agree there are so many similarities between Casey Marie, and Stacey Marie, even their names rhyme.

Syn, are you my twin!!?? lol, I was such a chicken to join WS also. I lurked for 2 months before I finally joined.  I just recently started posting other places too.  I had no idea that Stacey's middle name is Marie--creepy. A member found where Amber B is in the middle of a divorce.  She frustrates me, but, if her believing that Emma died 'by accident' choking on a ziploc bag makes her stop letting her children have items that could kill them, then at least something good has come out of this situation.

Cat, It looks like we could be twins with our similarities. LOL! Keep up the great work in your calling attention to this tragedy. I do hope that just maybe, one innocent child may be saved, by a "mother" thinking twice about her actions. Seeing that they will be caught  like Stacey and casey. I refuse to capitalize that psycho's name. At least Stacey recanted, and doesn't have that hardened, bold as brass demeanor that casey does. casey is a true narcissus sociopath, and has no remorse what so ever! It's all about me me me, for her. I don't ever see casey confessing, and she is so vile, that she feels she is being persecuted. Look at her blase manner over  the death of her daughter. I feel without a doubt that she killed her daughter, and acted alone. Just for an example, lets say that she is innocent (she isn't), it is utterly disgusting that she never showed any sadness, feelings, or grief over the disappearance and death of Caylee. casey is truly a soulless monster.

The thought that the last things these precious babies see is their momster, as she takes their life away from them, just breaks my heart. Is there terror from rage or just sadness from indifference? Do they comfort their dying child or turn away?

How these females can continue to breathe, to live their lives like nothing is wrong, to expect to be treated as human beings is beyond me. One day I hope it hits them, I hope they realize their loss and the pain they caused so many people by their selfish acts. 

I hope, when they die they see what the world lost by the death of their children. Then, they should spend eturnity, surrounded by all the pain and loss they created.  

As I read through all the comments on the KTLA BLOGS, I think most people are MORE CONCERNED that this so called mother "dumped" her baby on the side of road and Involved her brother in her lie. most people could understand a accidental death or a death in a mental breakdown but smothering your baby and leaving her on the side of the road like a animal then making a cover up story is more then most people can handle.
I see that the FAMILY watched the child more then the mother did..the news posts that everyone fit their schedules around watching EMMA except SB. as Kristin said on the KTLA comments, Emma WAS Nick's baby, {he was with her more then SB was}  that is clear to see on his myspace page, he said his baby is waiting for him in heaven and his mood is "CRUSHED". that is the saddest part of this whole thing, the grandparents and the great grandparents and NICK'S pain and loss of poor emma.
I do believe that he loved her with all his heart and I do not believe he had anything to do with the death or cover up,  he sounds like another Victim of the heartless, selfish SB. 
I saw the Grandmother on the news crying so hard she got sick and the Grandfather in tears all choked up also.. It broke my heart. all the family LOVED HER you could see it, but I saw SB on the news in the ambulance and she was dry eyed and calm! I would have been hysterical at the least. l  don't doubt that SB loved Emma but not as a motherly kind of love, with everyone else taking care of the child maybe it's that SB never bonded with EMMA the way a mother and child should have.
24 is old enough to have responsibility for yourself and your child, by 24 I had 3 children and yes, I had help from my family and my husband when I was at my wits end on a bad day, but NEVER did my family do all the work so I could go out drinking or messing around with my friends, hanging out at the bar or trying to hook up with some guy. {I was married so most of these things I would not have done anyway, I made a choice to raise a family and to love and  protect my kids no matter how mad they got me.}
Amber B. defends her friend way too much, I understand that Amber loves her and her family, she is constantly telling people to leave the family alone, the FAMILY DOES NOT need defending it seems no one is blaming them for SB's actions, quite the opposite, they feel for the family and are only mad at SB, as they should be! only someone with no heart would leave a precious child on the side of the road, panic driven or not. we have no IDEA what was going through her mind at the time but accident or not, you call 911 for help, not harm yourself and make up a story no one would ever believe. I feel she is a selfish, self centered BRAT that thought of nothing but herself, she tried to get people to feel sorry for her by beating herself up and saying Emma was abducted.
If what AMBER said is true and poor emma choked on a plastic baggie why would anyone go to the extent of covering it up with a wild story? Amber is right about one thing, THERE is more to the story, and Amber is gonna feel mighty bad for standing behind SB when it comes out.
Amber needs to stop letting her kids play with stuff that they can get hurt with...Marbles for pete sake?? you don't let small children play with marbles.  young people watch your kids they look to you for love and safety.. if you cannot provide safety for them, give them to someone who can PLEASE.  my prayers and thoughts are with the family and friends that have suffered from this heartless act, may the lord be with them.

Yes, Toria!  I did notice about KTLA.com website and I hate it!!  That was the only place that Amber B. was posting her comments. I wonder why they changed it? Now when I go the their home page and type in her name in the search engine, it doesn't pull up any of the articles.  Oh well, hopefully after May 11 court date there will be more articles to post to.  God bless you, 3 kids! I feel your joy and pain! I have 3 as well, it is hard work, but the most rewarding thing I've ever done!

thanks for the kind words cat. another good blog spot is daily news topix, when you go to dailynews and hit antelope valley it comes up "lancaster toddler found" if you hit the link it will pull up the story and at the bottom it will say post a comment or read all comments. there is a family friend on there defending SB, she posts under 'SHELL'  and a few different names. she is nuts. I am sure Amber will find this site soon and become friends with Shell if they don't already know each other. I also belong to WS. very interesting site.

Toria, I cannot thank you enough for that information! I don't know what KTLA has done to their website, but even if you search her name NOTHING comes up, bizarre. I've been trying to find another, I will definitely check it out. Definitely looking forward to May 11!

Cat, yes I am also..my daughter is going to attend the hearing on monday...she went to the first one but it was under lock and key, no name on court calander or anything so she left. on the news that night they showed her in a court holding area not in the court room..what has got me curious  is the veil of secrecy that surrounds SB and this case, I have read about horrific murders that have happened here in the AV, and the murderers  appear in court at their arrainment, not in the holding room and the papers have done a backround bio on them even before they get to the court room.....not this one though, they are keeping a lid on it. I would like to see "why".  so I will wait to see what my daughter has to say after court Monday.. I don't think it will be a surprise anyway, she will plead "not guilty" as they all do. see ya on here soon!

Well, guys, it's official, someone has cancelled Stacey's MySpace some time this afternoon.  Maybe it gives them some false hope that "those pics" are not up anymore, too bad, those pics have already been saved by many. Wonder when they'll end up on Nancy Grace?

Toria, I am so jealous and excited for your daughter! I wish I could be there. Re: the veil of secrecy, I have wondered about that since March 19 when they didn't arrest her for lying to LE and dumping Emma on the side of the road!!!! A month went by before the was finally arrested. Why aren't more people interested in this case???  I cannot wait to hear from you, via your daughter, what The hearing was like!  Isn't it ironic that her court date is the day after Mother's Day!? Thank you so much for the updates, I hope Syn checks in soon!