Rebekah Kinner is in jail awaiting trial for involuntary manslaughter for the beating death of her 2-year-old daughter, Kinsley.
Kinsley's father, Scott Senft, had thought he was Wyatt's father, but DNA testing last week showed that he was not, according to Senft and his family. The newborn is currently in foster care, Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser confirmed Tuesday, and Butler County Children Services is in search of suitable caretakers for the child.
Rapier described Jason not only as the possible father, but also as a “friend of the Kinner family.”
“He has two kids and gets along with the Kinner family,” said Rapier, who added that Rebekah Kinner was ending her relationship with Senft when she had a relationship with Jason.
The process of establishing custody for the infant could move faster if Jason pays for a private DNA test to determine paternity, according to Rapier.
“(Jason) wants this to move quickly,” he said.
A hearing was held Monday before Magistrate John Bruewer to determine who might take custody of baby Wyatt. Bruewer scheduled another hearing for March 16, according to Rob Clevenger, juvenile court administrator.
Gmoser confirmed that Wyatt is in foster care "for now." He said Rebekah Kinner gave several names to Children Services for consideration as suitable caretakers for the baby, however at Monday's hearing, it was determined that none of them were suitable.
“I am not at liberty to divulge those names considered,” Gmoser said.
The hearing, which is “routine business in juvenile court,” does not mean the baby boy will be raised in foster care.
“It has been blown out of proportion,” Gmoser said of reports that the child will remain in foster care.
Douglas Kinner, Rebekah’s father, said he and his mother were contacted by Children Services on Monday afternoon and case workers are supposed to call them back to schedule a visit.
“It was really upsetting to see reports of a ruling by a judge,” Douglas Kinner said. “My first priority is to get my grandson home. He is an innocent little baby. We haven’t been able to see him or hold him.”
Rebekah Kinner is accused of allowing her boyfriend, Bradley Young, 26, to beat Kinsley to death at their Radabaugh Road home in Madison Twp. late last year.
Rapier said he has been told by Rebekah that Young is not the father of the infant because she was pregnant when she met him.
The assault occurred between Nov. 28 and Dec. 2, according to prosecutors. Young and Kinner were arrested Dec. 2 after the life squad and sheriff’s deputies were called to their home and found Kinsley unresponsive and not breathing.
The trial date for Kinner is set for April 4, while Young will stand trial on April 25 in Butler County Common Pleas Court.
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