Woman sentenced to life in jail after death of grandchild

MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. — A grandmother of two children found malnourished has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

A news release says that a jury convicted Priscilla Ann Barnett, 57, of first-degree murder, murder during the perpetration of aggravated child abuse, and two counts of aggravated child abuse.

The release says that EMS and Madison County Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a home on Cane Creek Road in October of 2018 about an unresponsive 3-year-old.

Serenity Yancey, the grandchild of Barnett, had died, and an autopsy report showed the cause of death as malnourishment, the release says.

The jury convicted Barnett on all counts, imposed a total $250,000 in fines, and a judge sentenced her to a total effective sentence of life in prison.

The release says another four-year-old child was found in the home, and was also suffering from malnourishment. They have since recovered.

The mother of the children was also charged, but was found not guilty by reason of insanity, the release says.

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