Dad Seeks Psychologist's Evaluation Of Mom Accused Of Killing 3 Children

PASADENA, CA — The father of three children allegedly drowned by their mother is asking a judge to compel a psychologist to produce records from her sessions with the woman, saying the medical professional is wrongfully withholding them and disobeying a subpoena.

In his suit filed in April 2022, plaintiff Erik Denton alleges Los Angeles police were negligent and did not take seriously indications that the mental health of Liliana Carrillo, the mother of the two girls and one boy, was declining and did not share information they had with county social workers. Denton also is suing Los Angeles County.

"This case arises from the death of plaintiff's three children who were murdered by their mother, Liliana Carrillo, while she was suffering from severe mental health issues," Denton's lawyers write in their court papers. "Her mental health is a central issue in the case."

In advance of a Sept. 14 hearing, Denton's attorneys filed court papers with Pasadena Superior Court Judge Jared Moses asking him to compel psychologist Dianna Lynn Barnes to comply with their subpoena to produce the records. Barnes has resisted by contending that the materials sought regarding Carrillo are privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure in Denton's case, according to the plaintiff's attorneys' court papers.

Carrillo's mental health was evaluated in connection with her criminal prosecution and Barnes was one of multiple professionals who evaluated her and issued reports, according to Denton's attorneys' court papers.

A psychiatrist, Dr. David S. Rad, also evaluated Carrillo. Rad made references to Barnes' findings in his own report, stating that Barnes found Carrillo suffered from bipolar disorder with peripartum onset and post- traumatic stress disorder and that Carrillo's bipolar disorder left her unable to understand that what she did was morally wrong, according to Denton's attorneys' court papers.

A process server served Barnes with a notice of the motion at her Westlake Village office on Aug. 13, Denton's lawyers further state.

Carrillo, then 33, was acquitted in October 2024 under a plea of not guilty for plea of insanity in the April 10, 2021, killings of her 6-month-old daughter Sierra, 3-year-old daughter Joanna and 2-year-old son Terry.

Carrillo was admitted to a state mental institution and the criminal court judge maintains ongoing judicial oversight.

— City News Service