All Pantagraph news articles from the time Barton was arrested until the time he was convicted
WEBSITE AUTHOR’S NOTES: Barton knew he was innocent. So he kept trying to figure out ways to prove his innocence since his court appointed attorney Tracy Smith had failed him. He discovered there was a technique to better differentiate the hair found clutched in his daughter’s hands that was unlike Christina McNeil. If there was … Read more
WEBSITE AUTHOR NOTES: As referenced in Barton’s lifetime sentencing article dated August 12, 1999, due to sentencing guidelines, Barton had to face the same judge who had sentenced him. Barton only received notice of this “resentencing hearing” a week before it was to take place with Barton being visited by his former attorney Tracy Smith. … Read more
WEBSITE AUTHOR NOTE: This is highly unusual and there really is no good explanation other than there appears to have been some issue back and forth between the State’s Attorneys office and the County Coroner’s office. It should be added that Dr. Violette Hnlinica, the pathologist employed by the County Coroner’s office that at the … Read more
WEBSITE AUTHOR NOTES: The Judge presiding in this case, which is known as “the sole fact finder” in a Bench Trial, found the insinuation that Barton had molested his 3-year old daughter, despite no charges being filed as there was zero physical evidence to support this accusation, was so heinous, that the maximum penalty he … Read more
WEBSITE AUTHOR COMMENTS: This article is about an entirely different child murder however Barton McNeil’s case was cited in this article which was published the day after Barton McNeil was found guilty by Judge Michael Prall in Bart’s bench trial. See final three paragraphs with reference to Barton and Christina McNeil.
The following article from the local area newspaper The Pantagraph printed in July, 1999 immediately following his trial.
The autopsy showed possible signed of sexual abuse. Despite there being absolutely no physical evidence to show Barton had perpetrated such heinous and immoral acts against his very own daughter, prosecutors used this against him. With no charges ever being leveled against Barton relative to this kind of criminal misconduct. So great was this accusation … Read more