One of the two people charged in the death of a child in Bucklin last June, will have his case heard in Linn County Circuit Court.
24-year-old Kullen Joe McElhaney was charged in June of 2025 with alleged abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death and child endangerment resulting in death. He was also charged with alleged abuse or neglect of a child resulting in serious emotional or physical injury and child endangerment resulting in serious physical injury.
According to the probable cause statement, on June 5th 2025, deputies responded to the home in Bucklin for an infant girl not breathing. The infant’s father reported the child had been dropped. The cause of death was later determined to be “Blunt Trauma.”
The girl’s twin, an infant boy, was removed from the home and was examined, finding broken bones and injuries “consistent with physical abuse.”
McElhaney’s arraignment in Circuit Court was held Tueday morning.
Twenty-year-old Jessica E. Loucks faces the same charges. Her case remains in the Associate Court at this time.