Local News

Bail Raised for Couple Accused in Death of 3-Year-Old Bluffton Boy

BLUFFTON, Ind. (WOWO): Bail has been raised for the Bluffton couple facing charges in the death of 3-year-old Owen Collins.

According to WISH-TV, 21-year-old Breanna Arnold, the mother of the boy, and 30-year-old Zachary Barnes, her boyfriend, appeared in court Monday afternoon. They were formally charged with dealing methamphetamine and their bail was also raised by $50,000 to $350,000.


Collins' body was found back in January in a wooded area in Wells County. The Associated Press reports Arnold and Barnes admitted to using methamphetamine before the boy's death. Barnes said in an interview with detectives that the they were “shooting dope” and nobody in the home called police because they were scared. Instead, court documents say he admitted that the couple decided to saran wrap Collins' body and put him in a bedroom dresser  until later deciding to put the body inside a box, with the help of Barnes' 16-year old friend. 


Another woman who was unaware of the death drove Barnes and the teen twelve miles away, to the wooded area, where Barnes doused the box with nail polish remover and set it on fire. The body was discovered after the woman, initially unaware of the death, led investigators to the wooded area where the box with the burned body was found.



The 16-year-old is also being charged for his involvement. A motion is currently pending as to whether or not he will be tried in adult court.

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