Caretaker charged with woman’s death

Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2000 | 12:51 p.m.

The charge against Kelly Sue Hein, 33, was filed on Tuesday after an investigation turned up evidence suggesting that 79-year-old Iris Barton was killed when her oxygen supply was cut off or her food supply removed

Prosecutor Anne Langer would not comment on the evidence. Hein previously was suspected of abuse causing bodily harm, theft and forgery.

During a jailhouse interview on July 20, Hein told investigators Barton died of natural causes on June 27.

Langer said investigators have new information about the estimated time of Barton's death, but she did not elaborate.

Barton had been living with a machine that aided in her breathing by increasing the oxygen supply.

Her decomposed body was discovered in an upstairs bedroom at her home. Hein had been living at the home as her caretaker for more than two years.

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