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Kinsley's brother to stay in foster care for now

Posted at 4:56 PM, Feb 08, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-08 23:49:01-05

HAMILTON, Ohio – Kinsley Kinner's baby brother may grow up in foster care.

Butler County Children Services found no one in the Kinner family is fit to care for the slain girl's brother, born last week, and so he will be placed in a foster home, according to the Butler County Prosecutor's Office.

Their mother, Rebekah Kinner, is in jail facing charges in the beating death of 2-year-old Kinsley. Kinsley's father had claimed he also fathered the boy and wanted custody, but DNA tests showed he isn't the father.

Officials are trying to locate the man who Kinner thinks is the father, but they may find he's not qualified, either. Or that he doesn't want the baby.

It stands to reason that Rebekah Kinner won't be allowed to have the baby unless she is acquitted. Kinner is accused of allowing her boyfriend, Bradley Young, to beat Kinsley to death. Prosecutors say Kinner did nothing to stop the abuse.

Kinner pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter, endangering children and permitting child abuse.

Young pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, two counts of endangering children and involuntary manslaughter.

Correction: An earlier version of this story indicated a judge had already ruled on the baby's placement; WCPO regrets this error.