Derek Myers, Editor-in-chief
A Blue Ribbon Arson Reward poster offering a reward to information about Mackenzie Branham's death hangs in the lobby of the Fayette County Sheriff's office.
New details have been uncovered in a fatal fire investigation that took the life of an 8-year-old Jeffersonville girl, and now her father wants answers.
Mackenzie Branham, 8, died on April 27, 2006, when her body was found in a burned out house on the second floor of 7 East Walnut Street in Jeffersonville. Her death was ruled a homicide and the fire was ruled arson.
Her father, Rick Branham, believes he has uncovered new information that could possibly lead to detectives making an arrest in the case.
“When I was going through a divorce with their mother, the court ordered my children to go to Paint Valley Mental Health for counseling. While at Paint Valley, the counselor, who is a licensed PHD psychologist, put in her notes that my daughter was abused,” Branham told Fayette Advocate on Thursday.
Braham said that he recently learned of the abuse after the state fire marshal’s office requested he obtain the childrens’ medical records to further the investigation.
“We didn’t know this was going on until the fire marshal called me in November and asked me to pull the kids’ medical records from Paint Valley. When the psychiatrist handed me the file, she said that I would cry my eyes out when I read it, and I did,” he said.
One of the psychiatrist’s notes reads,“Mackenzie has told me that her mother’s boyfriend drags her into a bedroom.”
The psychiatrist forwarded the information that was shared with her by Mackenzie to Fayette County Children Services.
“This is Mackenzie talking before she was murdered. This is Mackenzie crying out for help…This was reported to a licensed psychiatrist, who did their job by sending it to children services but then you have children service who didn’t,” Branham said.
Branham shared with Fayette Advocate the records written by children services that outline physical, mental, and sexual abuse that was drawn out over a long period of time in the home of Mary Potter, Mackenzie’s mother.
One of the reports written by children services reads, “kids have been subject to inappropriate sexual overtures and touching by Mary’s relatives.”
[CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORTS]
Another reads, “McKenzie locked in a dark room..kids heard mom say she was going to kill herself.”
A third report reads, “…had a scar from a burn on his back. He was pushed into a hot stove by an uncle. Mother did not treat…had a puncture wound and a large scratch on his abdomen and side. He was bitten by a dog. Mother didn’t treat.”
Branham said that the above reports were written by children services in their findings, yet no one was ever charged with a crime.
“I’ve got seven licensed medical professionals who have filed reports with children services for abuse..never did children services do any follow-ups…they knew it was going on. It’s in the report written by job and family services. They knew my kids were being molested but never went out and talked to the offender or his parents. They ignored it.” he said.
“My son was cut, my other son was burnt across his back, a man was making my kids do sexual acts, my other son had bruises, my son was choked and slammed to the floor..all that was turned over to children services…the three people who were hurting my kids before my daughter’s death are all now persons of interests in my daughter’s death..If children services would have followed up, my daughter would not have been at her mother’s house the night of the fire…was my daughter molested and was the fire to cover up her death?”
Fayette County Sheriff Vernon P. Stanforth said that given the new findings in the case, his office has collected DNA samples from several of Mackenzie’s relatives that could lead to a break in the case.
“I feel very confident that this may be the direction that could lead us to a suspect,” Stanforth said.
Fayette Advocate shared the reports with Fayette County Prosecutor Jess Weade, who said that his office would investigate the reports written by children services.
“If the file is brought to me by children services or the Sheriff’s office, we will review it,” he said.
Calls to Fayette County Children Services were not returned. Meanwhile, Branham plans to picket in front of their offices on Friday.
A Blue Ribbon Arson Reward is being offered up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for setting the April 27, 2006 fire.