Jury begins deliberation in trial of Kent Cody Barlow

PROVO, Utah (ABC4) — The trial of Kent Cody Barlow, the man accused of killing two Eagle Mountain toddlers after crashing his car at high-speeds while high on meth, is now in the hands of the jury.

Attorneys for both the prosecution and the defense rested their case on the 15th and final day of the trial. Both sides acknowledged that Barlow allegedly caused the deaths of Hunter Jackson and Odin Ratliff, two three-year-olds, on May 2, 2022.

While the two sides are asking the jury for a guilty verdict, what is left to be determined is the charge Barlow will be found guilty of.

During his closing arguments, state attorney Michael Starrs argued Kent Barlow should be found guilty as charged with depraved indifference murder. Starrs said that while Barlow did not intend to kill Hunter Jackson and Odin Ratliff, his actions knowingly put human life in grave danger and ultimately led to the deaths of the two three-year-old boys.

“It does not matter that he did not see them,” argued Starrs. “What matters is the depraved indifference aspect of it. The signs of life. We’re dealing with risks here. Grave risks of death. Not certainties, but risks. The risk with the signs of life in front of him.”

Barlow’s attorney, Justin Morrison, disagreed. While conceding a homicide did take place, the case more appropriately fits an automobile homicide charge, rather than depraved indifference murder.

“My client got high, and he was having too good of a time, but he wasn’t a cold-blooded killer. He wasn’t engaging in an act that was designed to inflict grave harm and just didn’t care who lived or died,” said Morrison. He later added, “Automobile homicide fits this case like a glove. A tragic, unintentional, and unfortunate killing that was born out of human frailty.”

About 10:30 a.m., the jury began deliberation on whether he was guilty of the charges as charged, guilty of a more negligent crime such as automobile homicide, or not guilty. As of noon the same day, the jury had not returned from their deliberations.

ABC4 will monitor the case and provide an update when it is available.