Erik Denton, the father of three young children killed by their mother Liliana Carrillo in 2021, is taking psychologist Dianna Lynn Barnes to court over withheld records from her evaluation of Carrillo's mental health. The records, which could be central to Denton's lawsuit against Los Angeles authorities, have been resisted by Barnes who claims they are privileged or protected from disclosure. According to the filing, Barnes concluded that Carrillo suffered from bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, which may have contributed to her actions. A hearing is scheduled for September 14 in Pasadena Superior Court to determine whether Barnes must comply with a subpoena seeking the records.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-24,
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Story summary
Erik Denton, whose three children were killed by their mother, Liliana Carrillo, in 2021, is taking a psychologist named Dianna Lynn Barnes to court over withheld records. Denton alleges that Los Angeles police failed to take warning signs about Carrillo's deteriorating mental health seriously and did not share information with county social workers. He believes the records from Dr. Barnes' evaluation of Carrillo are crucial to his lawsuit against Los Angeles authorities, which he filed in April 2022. The lawsuit also names Los Angeles County as a defendant. Denton's attorneys argue that Carrillo's mental health is a central issue in the case, and the records could provide key evidence. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for September 14 at Pasadena Superior Court, where Judge Jared Moses will consider ordering Dr. Barnes to comply with the subpoena seeking the records.
Written for “Investigation into Psychologist's Role” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 1913 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-28
The father of three young children killed by their mother is asking a judge to force a psychologist who evaluated her to turn over records that he says could be central to his lawsuit against Los Angeles authorities.
uncertain
he → kill → authorities
Erik Denton, whose three children were killed by their mother, Liliana Carrillo, in 2021, alleges in his civil lawsuit that Los Angeles police failed to take warning signs about Carrillo’s deteriorating mental health seriously and did not adequately share information with county social workers.
asserted
police → kill → workers
Denton, who filed the lawsuit in April 2022, is suing Los Angeles County and others over the deaths.
asserted
who → file → deaths
“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 attorneys wrote in court papers.
asserted
attorneys → arise → papers
Ahead of a Sept. 14 hearing, Denton’s lawyers asked Pasadena Superior Court Judge Jared Moses to order psychologist Dianna Lynn Barnes to comply with a subpoena seeking records related to her evaluation of Carrillo.
asserted
lawyers → ask → Carrillo
Barnes has resisted the request, maintaining that the records are privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure, according to Denton’s attorneys.
uncertain
records → resist → attorneys
Carrillo’s mental health was evaluated by several professionals as part of the criminal case against her, including Barnes and psychiatrist Dr. David S. Rad.
asserted
health → evaluate → Barnes
According to Denton’s court filings, Rad cited Barnes’ findings in his own report.
uncertain
Rad → accord → report
Barnes concluded that Carrillo suffered from bipolar disorder with peripartum onset and post-traumatic stress disorder and that her bipolar disorder left her unable to understand that her actions were morally wrong, Denton’s attorneys said.
asserted
attorneys → conclude → her
A process server delivered notice of Denton’s motion to Barnes’ Westlake Village office on Aug. 13, according to the filings.
uncertain
server → deliver → filings
Carrillo was 33 when her children — 6-month-old Sierra, 3-year-old Joanna and 2-year-old Terry — were killed on April 10, 2021.
asserted
children → kill → April
In October 2024, Carrillo was found not guilty by reason of insanity in their killings.
asserted
Carrillo → find → killings
She was subsequently committed to a state mental health facility, where she remains subject to continuing judicial oversight.
asserted
she → commit → oversight
Denton’s lawsuit now puts Carrillo’s mental health history at the center of a separate legal fight over whether authorities failed to respond adequately to warning signs before the children’s deaths.
asserted
authorities → put → deaths
