Sheriff releases 911 record

Deputies found four children living among dog feces and garbage at a home in Luther on Dec. 2 because a woman at the home called 911 claiming her son was threatening to kill her, according to a recording of the call released Friday.

The youngest of the children, 3-month-old Samuel Barber, died Monday at the Pauline E. Mayer shelter in Oklahoma City after being taken into state custody when deputies responded to the home.

Irene Cochran called 911 on Dec. 2, claiming her son, the children’s uncle, was threatening her and her daughter-inlaw. When deputies arrived, they found the family’s trailer full of animal feces, soiled diapers and rotting garbage.

“My emergency is my schizophrenic son is threatening to kill me again and beat me up and my daughter-in-law,” Cochran told dispatchers.

Nine dogs and two cats also were found living in the home. One deputy said the smell was so bad, he nearly vomited.

The children — Samuel; Ashlyn Barber, 3; Felicity Barber, 2; and Anna Barber, 1 — were taken from the trailer by deputies and checked into the shelter about 4:45 p.m. Dec. 2.

Initial exams were OK

Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel said initial exams by shelter staff found the children suffering from severe head lice but otherwise were OK. Samuel was alive the last time he was checked at 4:30 a.m. Monday. An hour and a half later, he was found not breathing and later died.

An initial autopsy did not reveal a cause of death, according to the state medical examiner. Whetsel said toxicology reports may not be ready for months.

“We have an investigation on the potential child abuse and neglect charges and then the investigation on the death itself. We anticipate the presentation of charges in the abuse and the neglect in the next two weeks.”

In addition to Cochran and her son,