Death penalty sought for mother who conspired to kill infant son

A notice of intent to seek the death penalty was filed with the 10th Judicial District Court on Aug. 1 in the case of the State of Louisiana Versus Hannah Barker.

Barker was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the July 18 death of her infant son, who was found after being burned in a ditch fire. Barker reported the child was kidnapped from her home in Natchitoches. After an investigation it was uncovered that the kidnapping report was a ruse to hide a plan she hatched to have Felicia Marie Nicole Smith kill the boy. Barker and Smith were in a relationship together. Their cases are being tried separately.