Maryville Rape Suspect Pleads Guilty, Ordered To Apologize
Maryville rape suspect Matthew Barnett pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child. Barnett is accused raping Daisy Coleman while she was passed out drunk. As part of a plea agreement, Barnett was sentenced to two years of probation. He was also ordered to apologize to the victim.
In January 2012, the 14-year-old girl attended a party with several classmates. Barnett reportedly served her alcohol throughout the evening. At some point, Coleman said she passed out. She woke up hours later in the front yard of her mother’s home.
Melinda Coleman eventually found her daughter laying in the yard in sub-zero temperatures. Once inside, the teen realized something was wrong. Her mother took her to the hospital for an evaluation and a rape kit. The doctors discovered she had several tears in her vagina, which indicated she had been raped.
The following day, Barnett was arrested on multiple charges, including sexual assault. However, the charges were dismissed on March 13. Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to secure a conviction.
Following the dismissal, the Maryville rape case gained national attention. Daisy Coleman and her family received an outpouring of support from around the world. However, residents of Maryville had a different opinion.
As reported by Kansas City, Melinda was fired from her job, and Daisy was harassed at school and through social media. The family was eventually forced to leave Maryville. After they moved, their vacant home mysteriously burned to the ground before it was sold.
On Sunday, January 3, Daisy Coleman attempted suicide. She is currently hospitalized in Kansas City in stable condition. However, her mother said she sustained brain damage. The doctors are unsure whether the damage is permanent.
This week, a special prosecutor, who reviewed the original case, charged Barnett with endangering a child. The defendant appeared in court this afternoon and pleaded guilty. Although he was ordered to apologize, Daisy Coleman may not have the capacity to understand.
The Maryville rape case may be over, but the Coleman family is still dealing with the aftermath.
[Image via Facebook]
