2 people accused of organizing child fighting ring, cheering as one was in near-fatal hold

SEDALIA, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) - Two people in Missouri are accused of organizing a child fighting ring and cheering as one was in a near-fatal hold.

The Pettis County Sheriff’s Office charged Barbara J. Dunlap, 44, and Austin M. Barklage, 20, of Sedalia with child endangerment.

A probable cause statement filed by the sheriff’s office revealed that officials received a tip that two children had been forced to fight.

Investigators noted that two videos of the incident showed two juveniles, of whom Dunlap had guardianship, as she and Barklage forced and encouraged them to fight.

In the course of the fight, one of the children was put in a headlock, which authorities described as dangerously close to fatal, as the two adults continued to cheer.

Following the incident, it was reported that one of the children ran away from Dunlap’s home. Since then, authorities noted that she had not made any attempt to check on the child’s well-being.

Through the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office said it also learned that Barklage had sent the videos of the fight to several other people.

As a result, court documents indicated that Dunlap was criminally charged, as several other children still in her care were removed from the home. Barklage, meanwhile, was charged as an accessory to the crime.

If convicted, state statutes dictate that Dunlap and Barklage could be sentenced to a maximum of 7 years in prison.

As of Thursday, Aug. 21, neither Dunlap nor Barklage remains behind bars as their $7,500 bonds have been posted.

An arraignment is expected to be held for Dunlap at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26. Meanwhile, Barklage is expected to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9.