Independence woman accused of beating aunt to death with bat

A 32-year-old Independence woman is accused of beating her aunt to death with a baseball bat inside the aunt’s home.

Courtney A. Hackney was charged Wednesday in the fatal beating of Holly D. Barnett, who was found dead in her Independence home Tuesday evening.

Hackney faces one count each of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. She is accused of beating Barnett to death with a bat.

Barnett was found dead in a home in the 700 block of East Walnut Street.

According to court records, a caller told police a person named Holly had been beaten to death with a bat. When officers arrived at Barnett’s home, they found her inside the home sitting in a recliner, dead.

Investigators recovered a baseball bat that appeared to have blood on it at the scene, court records state.

A woman living at the home told police that Hackney had let her into the home, and she saw Barnett in the chair. Hackney allegedly told the woman Barnett was sleeping. The woman then ran out of the house, but Hackney attempted to drag her back in, court records state.

The woman was able to get free and call police.

Officers found Hackney later near Woodlawn Cemetery on South Noland Road. She told police Barnett was her aunt and stated that the baseball bat belonged to her.

According to court records, witnesses told police they saw Hackney frequently carrying the bat.

Hackney is being held in Jackson County Detention Center on a $150,000 cash-only bond.

Barnett’s death was the third homicide of the year in Independence.

This story was originally published May 17, 2017 at 4:36 PM with the headline "Independence woman accused of beating aunt to death with bat."