Crime & Safety

Trial of Franklin Park Couple Charged With Child Abuse Delayed

Testimony in the case against Douglas and Kristen Barbour won't begin until October.

This article was written and reported by Editor Rich Cook

A Franklin Park couple charged with abusing and starving two children they adopted from Ethiopia won't go on trial until October.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Manning Tuesday approved the prosecution's request for a continuation of the trial of Douglas and Kristen Barbour, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The delay was requested because the lead officer on the case is on vacation, the P-G reported. A new trial date was scheduled for October 7.

Douglas Barbour, a Pennsylvania Deputy Attorney General, has been suspended from his state job without pay since he and his wife were arrested Oct. 4. 

According to the criminal complaint, the Barbours are accused of starving their adopted 6-year-old son and leaving him with lesions from being kept in urine-soaked clothing for long periods of time. 

Their 18-month-old adopted daughter will likely remain permanently blind in one eye and paralyzed after suffering abusive head trauma, according to the criminal complaint. 

A doctor determined she had suffered multiple hemorrhages, fractures and injuries to both eyes and had been a victim of physical abuse, including abusive head trauma, the complaint states.

Find out what's happening in Pine-Richlandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Barbour's defense attorney, Charles Porter previously told Patch they dispute the allegations. 

Dr. Rachel Berger at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC recommended that the boy be permitted no contact with the Barbours. She also determined that their 18-month-old adopted girl not be returned to the Barbours' home, police said in the complaint. 

Find out what's happening in Pine-Richlandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The couple also has two biological children. They are not accused of abusing them.

The couple recently moved from their Franklin Park home to live with Douglas Barbour's parents in Mercer County.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Pine-Richland