Accused Child Murderer Ruled Competent for Trial

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A murder defendant was declared mentally competent before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin during a mental health court hearing June 5.

Anthya Barnett, 28, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree arson and first-degree child abuse resulting in death of a child under 13 for an April 8, 2022, incident.

At the defendant’s annual hearing, medical evaluators determined Barnett was now competent to stand trial, but recommended she remain in the hospital in order to maintain competency. Barnett will return to mental health court on Aug. 7.

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, Barnett was detained in relation to an investigation of a fatal fire that involved a three-year old girl, My’Royal Bennett, on the 4700 block of Vancouver Road.

When interacting with Baltimore Police Department detectives, the defendant allegedly became violent, biting two detectives, who later required medical attention for their injuries. Barnett, who was unharmed, was eventually admitted to a Grace Medical for psychiatric care facility.

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