Viola Aundra Vanclief

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kiana Barker's home was supposed to have been a refuge for Viola who was born to a schizophrenic mother who proved dangerously neglectful when off her medications. Instead, Viola was moved from one high risk home to another. Barker had been the subject of five previous child abuse complaints, including one substantiated allegation that she had severely neglected her own biological child in 2002. In 2005, someone accused Barker of emotionally abusing a child and investigators deemed the allegation unfounded. In July 2008, a caller alleged neglect of two foster children the charge deemed inconclusive. One month later, Barker was accused of general neglect and sexual abuse of foster children. Investigators determined the neglect charge to be inconclusive and the sexual abuse charge unfounded. Three months later, investigators concluded another complaint of sexual abuse of a foster child was unfounded.

 

Viola was taken to California Hospital Medical Center doctors at a hospital attempted to revive her however, she was pronounced dead at 4:26 p.m. Viola had several large bruised areas on her body. After Viola's death, Barker told investigators that Viola had been trapped in a bed frame and that she accidentally struck her with a hammer while trying to free her. Viola had multiple bruises on her body. Her death was deemed a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. Baker was said to be a violent woman who had beaten her own biological child with a belt and then whipped Viola until she died from the blunt force trauma caused by the beating. Baker was sentenced to 25 years to life. James Julian had plead no contest to being an accessory and was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in Viola's death.

 

Viola’s remains have been buried in an unmarked grave for four years, the little girl laid in an unmarked grave beneath the low hum of high-voltage lines. No one walking on the browning grass next to the drainage ditch would have known about the toddler buried beneath their feet. They wouldn't have known that she died a month before her third birthday. They wouldn't have known that her name was Viola Vanclief.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money was finally raised to get her a headstone.