Alabama authorities have arrested a 16-year-old and charged him with murder over the death of his mom who was found inside a charred home early Tuesday.
After extinguishing a massive fire at a Mobile home, police discovered a badly burned body that was identified by relatives as Danica “Pebbles” Barney.
Her 16-year-old son Terrance Barney Jr. was named a suspect after authorities learned he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and refused to take his medication.
The late woman’s daughter said that her mom was a retired Army paratrooper and had two Masters degrees.
“She was a good person,” Brenda Tucker said. “She didn’t bother nobody, she was always trying to help people. Always trying to help somebody.”
Neighbors told detectives that they’ve heard gunshots being fired a moment before the fire started.
“Unfortunately, we have had a spike in violent crime, nationally there’s a spike in violent crime, but also locally and I guess what’s concerning about it also is the age of our offender appears to be getting younger,” Lt. Chris Levy said.
