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Amy Jo
PARMER
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics:
Child abuse
Number of victims: 1
Date of murder:
March 28, 2010
Date of arrest:
June 20, 2011
Date of birth: September 29, 1983
Victim profile:
Kamryn Schlitter,
17-month-old
Method of murder:
Head injuries that were caused by a shaking or slamming
Location: Hiawatha,
Linn County, Iowa, USA
Status:
Sentenced to 50 years in prison on December 13, 2013
Woman Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for Death
of 17-month-old
By Trish Mehaffey - Kcrg.com
December 13, 2013
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - A 50-year prison sentence for
Amy Parmer seemed like it might provide closure and peace for the
family of 17-month-old Kamryn Schlitter who died in 2010 from child
abuse injuries, but emotions remained raw Friday in the courtroom as
family members told her they couldn't forgive her for taking their
"sweet angel."
Nicole King, who now lives in Arkansas, Kamryn's
mother, told Parmer in a victim's impact statement that she blamed her
for Kamryn's death and warned Parmer that her own children would grow
up and learn the truth some day.
"Everybody is losing someone through this," Nicole
King angrily said as she looked at Parmer. "I will be at every parole
(hearing) fighting to keep you in prison and at Zyriah's fighting to
free him long before you."
Nicole King said she knew Zyriah Schlitter,
Kamryn's father who was also convicted in this case, wasn't a
"killer," only guilty of "not knowing how to clean up his messes."
Jeri King, Nicole's mother and Kamryn's
grandmother, who cried at times throughout her statement, said it was
"overwhelming and unbelievable" that she had to write a victim's
impact statement for her granddaughter's murder.
"A mother, grandmother and their families should
never be put in a position where they must grieve their babies,
especially when the grief is caused by vicious acts of violence," Jeri
King, who now lives in Arkansas, said.
Jeri King said she will never forget Kamryn's smile
and her laughter which was "contagious." She closes her eyes and still
hears her "silly, little giggling echoing through my head."
Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, who cried at times
throughout the hearing, declined to say anything before the judge
sentenced her to 50 years in prison for involvement in the death of
Kamryn, who died of blunt force head injuries March 28, 2010. Parmer
was convicted in September of involuntary manslaughter and child
endangerment resulting in death following a four week trial.
There is no mandatory sentence on either charge so
Parmer could serve only two years or up to 50 years before being
paroled.
Kim Schlitter, Kamryn's grandfather and Zyriah
Schlitter's father, was the only family member who said he forgave
Parmer. He said it had been a struggle for three years but he knows he
must to free his own soul and move on with his life.
"It has hurt my family, the Niki King family, and I
assume the Parmer family is also hurting," Kim Schlitter said in his
victim's impact statement. "I miss Kamryn so much it hurts every day
and part of me died with Kamryn March 28, 2010."
Kim Schlitter said he knows his granddaughter would
want them all to be happy and go on with their lives.
Emilee Bennett, Kamryn's cousin, read a poem she
wrote after Kamryn's death as her impact statement. The poem tried to
make sense of why the "sweet angel" had to die.
"Fly home sweet angel. Fly, fly, fly," Emilee said.
Denise Bennett, Kamryn's aunt wearing a shirt with
Kamryn's picture on it, said in her statement that she remembered the
day Kamryn was born.
"She won our hearts....we loved and cherished her,"
Denise Bennett said.
She also remembered seeing Kamryn in the hospital
when she was on life support and had bruises all over her body and
part of her skull had been removed after surgeries.
"May God forgive you because I don't know if I ever
will."
Tyler Johnston, Parmer's attorney, went on the
defensive after the impact statements, passionately telling the court
and the packed courtroom with families from both sides that Parmer was
innocent and he would spend the rest of days fighting for her.
Nicole and Jeri King stormed out of the courtroom
as Johnston continued to defend Parmer, saying this conviction was a
"miscarriage of justice." He said the child endangerment law is vague
and this should a "cautionary tale" to any babysitter or someone
caring for another's child because they could be held responsible if a
child is harmed in their care.
Johnston made this same argument, along with
others, in his motion for a new trial, which was denied last week. He
also vowed to appealed this conviction.
According to the prosecution's theory, Parmer,
along with ex-boyfriend, Zyriah Schlitter, inflicted the physical
abuse of Kamryn or each knew of the abuse and did nothing to stop it
in the last month of her life, while Schlitter had sole custody of the
child.
Zyriah Schlitter, 26, of Cedar Rapids, was
convicted last December of involuntary manslaughter and child
endangerment resulting in death and is serving 50 years in prison.
Several medical doctors who treated Kamryn
testified over a course of two weeks during trial, saying Kamryn would
have never recovered from the two severe head injuries that were
caused by a shaking or slamming. They said one injury was older and
the other which likely caused her death was recent, occurring within
hours or days of the 911 call Parmer made that night.
Amy Parmer convicted in toddler’s death, faces
up to 55 years in prison
By Trish Mehaffey - TheGazette.com
September 23, 2013
After more than four days of deliberations, a jury
found a Hiawatha woman guilty Monday in the death of toddler Kamryn
Schlitter, who died before she turned 18-months-old as a result of
blunt force head injuries March 28, 2010.
“Our family is relieved that justice has finally
come for Kamryn, on what would have been her 5th birthday,” Jeri King
said after a jury convicted Amy Parmer, 29, in the toddler’s death.
“We would like to thank everyone involved with the heroic efforts
given on Kamryn’s behalf, including first responders, medical staff,
investigators, the Linn County Attorney’s Office and the jury. As a
family, we can finally begin the healing process together.”
Parmer was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter
and child endangerment resulting in death. She faces up to five years
in prison on the manslaughter charge and up to 50 years on child
endangerment. There is no mandatory minimum on either charge. Parmer
was originally charged with first-degree murder and the child
endangerment charge.
Sentencing is set 11 a.m. Nov. 14, in Linn County
District Court.
Parmer cried as her attorneys Tyler Johnston and
Megan Heneke hugged her after the jury was dismissed from the
courtroom.
Family members of Parmer’s and Kamryn’s cried and
remained relatively quiet during the verdict, except for one outburst
as King started to leave the courtroom. A family member of Kamryn’s
father Zyriah Schlitter made a comment to King, blaming her in some
way for Kamryn’s death but sheriff’s deputies intervened and the
grandmother was able to leave without further incident.
Parmer’s trial started Aug. 19 and closing
arguments wrapped up Sept. 16, following three days of jury selection
and about three weeks of testimony.
According to the prosecution’s theory, Parmer,
along with ex-boyfriend, Zyriah Schlitter, Kamryn’s father, inflicted
the physical abuse of Kamryn or each knew of the abuse and did nothing
to stop it in the last month of her life, while Schlitter had sole
custody of the child.
Zyriah Schlitter, 26, of Cedar Rapids, was
convicted last December of involuntary manslaughter and child
endangerment resulting in death and is serving 50 years in prison.
First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks
said he wanted to thank the jury for their commitment and sacrifice
for more than four weeks of their lives.
“I know it was a difficult decision for the jury,”
Maybanks said after the verdict. “When you take on a case like this,
you know it will be challenging. This is why it took so many months to
complete the investigation and gather the evidence to convict both
people involved.”
Maybanks said this was a tough case because it
involved the death of a child and in the end, he has a sense of
appreciation for his own life, as one of young daughter’s was tugging
at his arm waiting for him to take her to the park. Something he
hasn’t had much time for since this trial began, he said.
Johnston said Tuesday he and Heneke remain “firmly
convinced” of Parmer’s innocence.
“We are disappointed by the verdict but will move
forward with her appeal and we are confident that this conviction will
be overturned,” Johnston said. “Iowa law imposes a 50 year sentence
for child endangerment causing death. This applies to whether you are
the perpetrator or abuse or not. This law is unconstitutionally vague
and over-broad. I would caution anyone in Iowa to avoid undertaking
the care of (another person’s) child.”
During the trial, Parmer took the stand and
maintained her innocence. She also never implicated Zyriah Schlitter,
except to say she saw him a few times get frustrated with his daughter
and may have handled her roughly. Kamryn was in Parmer’s care when she
became unresponsive and began posturing March 21, 2010. Parmer is the
one who called 911 that night.
Several medical doctors who treated Kamryn
testified over a course of two weeks, saying Kamryn would have never
recovered from the two severe head injuries that were caused by a
shaking or slamming. They said one injury was older and the other
which likely caused her death was recent, occurring within hours or
days of the 911 call.
The timing of the injuries was crucial to both
sides because the prosecution wanted to show Parmer was responsible
for the recent fatal injury and the defense wanted to show that injury
could have been inflicted before March 21, when Parmer babysat the
toddler.
Doctors also testified about Kamryn’s facial, head
and body bruises, which were in different stages of healing and were
consistent with child abuse.
Defense medical experts disputed the state’s
witnesses, claiming Kamryn only suffered one head injury and it could
have occurred within 24-48 hours of when Kamryn was brought into the
hospital.
Two people also testified during the trial that
Parmer told them she hurt or killed Kamryn. A former
boyfriend/co-worker of Parmer’s, Tim Sprous, said Parmer told him she
“took the life of an 18-month-old.” Heather Meyers, Parmer’s friend
and co-worker, said Parmer told her “I might have killed a kid.”
Parmer’s defense claimed Zyriah Schlitter inflicted
the injuries and Parmer only babysat the toddler while the two were
together.
Amy Parmer was more than a babysitter in
toddler’s last month, prosecutor says
Jury deliberations start 9 a.m Tuesday
By Trish Mehaffey - TheGazette.com
September 16, 2013
Toddler Kamryn Schlitter lived in a “culture of
abuse” while in the custody of her father Zyriah Schlitter and his
girlfriend Amy Parmer, who took on a bigger role in the last month of
Kamryn’s life, First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said
Monday in his closing argument.
Maybanks told the jurors to look at what was new
that month for Kamryn. Schlitter and his daughter started spending
almost every night with Parmer. Before March 2010, 17-month-old Kamryn
was happy, healthy and thriving.
Maybanks, showing jurors of photo of Kamryn with
bruising on her face, said there has been evidence that these bruises
correlate to dates Kamryn was under the control and care of Parmer.
Tyler Johnston, Parmer’s attorney, told jurors they
were probably wondering four weeks ago who inflicted Kamryn’s injuries
but common sense points to her father because there hasn’t been any
evidence against Parmer.
“There’s not one time frame that they (state) can
give you to point to Amy Parmer,” Johnston said.
Johnston said more than once in his closing the
state’s theory is “ridiculous” and they should look at lack of proof
in coming to a verdict.
Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, is charged with
first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. She is
accused of inflicting the physical abuse of Kamryn, along with her
ex-boyfriend Zyriah Schlitter. According to testimony, Parmer called
911 March 21, 2010 when Kamryn became unresponsive and began
posturing. She died March 28, 2010.
Schlitter, 25, of Cedar Rapids, was convicted last
December of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment resulting
in death and is serving 50 years in prison.
Jury deliberations start 9 a.m Tuesday.
Parmer in police interviews said Kamryn was
adorable, she was a “good girl” and “she doesn’t cry for me,” Maybanks
said. But then there was testimony from others who showed a different
side of Parmer.
A daycare teacher said Parmer came in to check on
Kamryn and referred to her as a brat, saying she had to discipline
Kamryn because her dad didn’t. In a text to a former boyfriend, Parmer
told him Kamryn was the “most obnoxious kid in the world” and was
“ending us (her and Schlitter).”
Then Parmer’s former boyfriend/co-worker Tim Sprous
said Parmer told him she “took the life of an 18-month-old” and
friend/co-worker Heather Meyers said Parmer told her “I might have
killed a kid.”
“Heather Meyers was her friend,” Maybanks said.
“She didn’t have any reason to say that, except that’s what happened.”
Kamryn stayed with Parmer March 7 and 15 and had
bruises after those weekends. She had bruises on her forehead and
cheeks, and her behavior started changing during this time. She
started having symptoms of abuse – she was sleepy and lethargic, loss
of energy and appetite, and she started pulling out her hair.
“Kamryn was exhibiting signs of emotional
distress,” Maybanks said.
Parmer was in the custody and control of Kamryn
March 21, 2010 when she became unresponsive and started posturing.
All the medical experts in this case said there
were two head injuries, an older one which happened weeks before and a
recent event which occurred hours to days of the 911 call.
Johnston said all the evidence points to Schlitter
who inflicted Kamryn’s injuries. He never implicated Parmer, even when
the police were pressuring him and almost got a confession from him.
Schlitter admitted to getting frustrated with
Kamryn March 20, 2010 when she vomited and then the next day when he
told her to stop crying and put her in timeout, Johnston said.
Schlitter took her into a bedroom and Parmer said she didn’t see what
happened.
Johnston said Parmer only spent about eight hours
with Kamryn that month and she can’t account for the others who cared
for Kamryn in March.
He told jurors to disregard Sprous’ testimony
because he’s a “convicted felon” and Meyers vaguely remembered
Parmer’s remarks to her, Johnston said.
“Amy Parmer is here because of the life she has led
and the men she has chosen, not because she has murdered child,”
Johnston said. “That’s ridiculous.”
Maybanks on rebuttal said Parmer may have been
around Kamryn before March but that’s when she took the child into her
home and had control, along with Schlitter. He told jurors to look at
the nights Parmer put Kamryn to bed and she had bruising the next day.
Maybanks also asked the jurors to look at the text
messages which show how Schlitter and Pamer were “cautiously
protecting” each other, and Parmer repeatedly asked if he still
supported and loved her after police began focusing on both of them.
Woman accused in toddler’s death testifies she
was rarely alone with child
Parmer supposedly called Kamryn "a brat" and
referred to her as the “most obnoxious kid in the world”
By Trish Mehaffey - TheGazette.com
September 10, 2013
Amy Parmer testified Tuesday that she never hurt
17-month-old Kamryn Schlitter and she was only alone with the toddler
for about six hours in March 2010 when her father Zyriah Schlitter had
custody of her.
Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, who cried at times on the
stand, said she thought Kamryn was “adorable” and wanted the child in
her life. She didn’t consider herself in a parental role with Kamryn
because when she and Zyriah Schlitter were together she would be in
charge of her two children and he would be responsible for Kamryn.
She noticed bruising on Kamryn’s cheeks and
forehead, but she never suspected child abuse, Parmer said.
First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks
in rapid fire questions attempted to impeach her statements by going
over the fact that she told police Schlitter and Kamryn stayed with
her almost every night, which he said indicated she was more involved
with Kamryn than she admitted.
Parmer at times, denied the statements until
Maybanks showed her the transcript. He also went over some texts where
Parmer is questioning Schlitter’s loyalty and then he said she points
the finger at Schlitter to police.
Parmer, charged with first-degree murder and child
endangerment resulting in death, is accused of inflicting the physical
abuse of Kamryn, along with Schlitter, 25, of Cedar Rapids, who was
convicted in her death last December and is serving 50 years in
prison.
According to medical testimony, Kamryn died from
rotational head trauma March 28, 2010. Parmer called 911 while she was
babysitting Kamryn March 21, 2010 when she became unresponsive and was
posturing.
The defense will continue its case 9 a.m. Wednesday
in Linn County District Court. The trial, which started Aug. 19, could
wrap up at the end of the week. Follow Gazette Reporter Trish
Mehaffey’s continuing live coverage from the courtroom.
Parmer said she only stayed alone with Kamryn March
14 and 21, when her father went to his financial class at church. She
and Kamryn would play together and Kamryn loved to dance. Kamryn could
have gone to the church’s daycare but Parmer wanted to keep her, she
said.
Tyler Johnston, Parmer’s attorney, asked her to
explain why she called Kamryn “a brat” at her daycare and referred to
her at the “most obnoxious kid in the world” to another man in a text.
Parmer said it was because Kamryn was being unruly.
The Apple Kids daycare teachers told her Kamryn had been in timeout
five times that day for climbing the bookshelves.
Earlier in the trial, daycare teachers testified
they couldn’t remember giving Kamryn any timeouts and she may have
climbed once on the bookshelves.
In the text, Parmer said she was referring to
Kamryn while she was sick and she was frustrated by her behavior.
Parmer admitted at times, she calls her own children obnoxious and
bratty.
The day of March 21, Parmer said Kamryn was sleepy,
fussy and cried a lot throughout the day. She was clingy to her
father.
Parmer said Schlitter got frustrated with Kamryn
that day. At one point, he told her ”I don’t know what to do with
you.” He then picked her up harshly or quickly and took her into the
bedroom for a timeout.
Parmer said she had seen him do the same thing a
few weeks before.
Kamryn took a nap and Parmer woke her about 3:30
p.m. Kamryn just sat on the couch and watched TV. She wouldn’t play or
interact with anybody. Schlitter left for his class and Kamryn was
still sleepy, so Parmer gave her a bath and put her to bed about 7:30
p.m.
“Colton and I realized she didn’t have her blanket
and tiger, so I went to go get them and when I came back her eyes were
rolling back in her head and her body went stiff,” Parmer said tearing
up. “I called (911).”
Johnston asked if she harmed Kamryn and she said
no.
First Assistant Nick Maybanks on cross said in a
text to Schlitter, didn’t she say she was scared “sh*#less,” about
being investigated for child abuse.
Parmer said she was referring to being scared for
Kamryn. Schlitter told her the child abuse investigation over the
bruises had been unfounded.
He then asked Parmer why Heather Meyers, a friend
of her’s, would lie about Parmer telling her “I might have killed a
kid?”
Parmer said she “misheard” her. She told her “DHS
thinks I killed a baby.”
Maybanks then asked Parmer if she tried to make
Schlitter look bad to police to divert attention from her. This was
after a text message where Parmer seemed to think Schlitter didn’t
believe her about not harming Kamryn that night.
Parmer said no.
“March 28, (2010), do you remember what happened,”
Maybanks asked.
“No,” Parmer said.
“Kamryn died that day,” Maybanks said.
Defense disputes timing of toddler’s fatal head
injury
Amy Parmer to take the stand Tuesday in her own
defense
By Trish Mehaffey - TheGazette.com
September 9, 2013
A forensic pathologist for the defense disputed
state expert witnesses Monday that said 17-month-old Kamryn Schlitter
suffered two possible head injuries, one older and one more recent,
and the timing of her injuries.
Dr. Peter Stephens, a former pathologist who
practiced in Cedar Rapids from 1985 to 1995 and also a former deputy
state medical examiner, said there was no way to determine if there
were two different bleeds from looking at the pathologists’ reports in
this case. Stephens agreed Kamryn’s head trauma caused a sub dural
hematoma but said it could have been 24-48 hours old.
The timing of the injury is crucial to Amy Parmer,
who is charged with first-degree murder in Kamryn’s death March 28,
2010. Stephens, testifying for the defense, disputed earlier testimony
from at least, three doctors who testified for the state, claiming the
recent injury occurred within hours to days of when Parmer called 911
for the toddler on March 21, 2010.
Parmer was taking care of Kamryn that night from
about 5 to 7:30 p.m. when the toddler became unresponsive and started
posturing – involuntary contraction of the limbs, according to
testimony.
Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, charged with first-degree
murder and child endangerment resulting in death, is accused of
inflicting the physical abuse of Kamryn, along with Schlitter, 25, of
Cedar Rapids, who was convicted in her death last December and is
serving 50 years in prison.
Parmer will take the stand 9 a.m. Tuesday in her
own defense. The trial may wrap up at the end of the week.
Stephens directly disputed Dr. Gary Baumbach, a
pathologist with UI Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, who testified
last week. Baumbach claimed the recent injury could have occurred
within 12-24 hours of Kamryn’s brain surgery March 21, 2010.
Baumbach said there was evidence of an older bleed
that could have been weeks to months old and a more recent one
occurred within 12-24 hours. He said there was evidence the red blood
cells hadn’t broken down, which indicates it was an “acute event” or
recent one. If it was longer than 24 hours, there would be fibroblast
cells in the sub dural hematoma, that starts healing the clot, but
those were missing, Baumbach said.
Stephens said it wasn’t possible to say if there
was fresh or recent bleed. There is evidence of a breakdown in the
blood, which indicates the injury could be 24-48 hours old but it’s
impossible to age a bleeding as less than 12 hours according to
literature regarding this kind of injury. He suggested this could have
been a re-bleeding, which would be part of an original bleed.
Stephens said Baumbach’s report was incomplete
because he only had a small sample from the clot.
On cross, Stephens admitted he couldn’t say with
certainty that there wasn’t two bleeding events but then said the
recent one could have been the result of the surgery.
First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks
asked Stephens if in his deposition didn’t he sayd there could be a
mixture of two events.
“I should have said there could be,” Stephens said.
In deposition, Stephens said the recent bleed
caused Kamryn’s collapse, Maybanks said.
“Yes, it’s a possibility,” Stephens said.
Maybanks then asked in order to have a re-bleeding,
wouldn’t the blood have to come from blood vessels but none of the
doctors said there was evidence of that.
Stephens agreed there was no evidence.
Stephens on re-direct confirmed the injury was 2 to
3 days old and there’s no way to determine two injuries.
Earlier in the day, Tyler Johnston, Parmer’s
attorney, again renewed his motion for mistrial based on a discovery
violation, claiming his medical experts were at a disadvantage because
Baumbach changed his testimony from his deposition and Zyriah
Schlitter’s trial. He claimed the state didn’t give him that
information.
According to his testimony, Baumbach changed the
timing of the injury to 12-24 hours based on additional reading and
research he did on brain hemorrhages.
Maybanks argued the state didn’t commit a discovery
violation. Baumbach didn’t change his opinion. He always referenced
the possibility of two bleeding events. He did clarify the 12-24 hour
window in this trial.
Sixth Judicial District Judge Marsha Beckelman said
the defense witnesses were allowed to go down last Friday and talk to
Baumbach and look at his slides of the brain injury and bleeding.
“There has been an incredible amount of medical
evidence in this case and differing opinions,” Beckelman said. “The
state asked Dr. Baumbach if he changed his opinion and he said he
didn’t.”
Beckelman said it will be up to the jury to
determine the credibility of the experts, just like the other
witnesses. She didn’t believe the state had committed any wrongdoing
and denied the motion.
Beckelman also denied the defense’s motion for a
direct verdict of acquittal.
Amy Parmer’s defense begins with testimony from
ex-boyfriend
By Trish Mehaffey - TheGazette.com
September 6, 2013
Zyriah Schlitter in his trial testimony last year
defended ex-girlfriend Amy Parmer, saying he never suspected she hurt
his 17-month-old daughter Kamryn who died from rotational head
injuries March 28, 2010.
Schlitter initially said Parmer never talked to him
about bruises on Kamryn’s cheeks and forehead. He even denied seeing
the bruises himself, saying the black eye was more a red mark and he
could “hardly” see them, according to his testimony which was read
into the record Friday as Parmer’s defense started in her murder
trial.
Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, is charged with
first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. She is
accused of inflicting the physical abuse of Kamryn, along with
Schlitter, 25, of Cedar Rapids, who was convicted of involuntary
manslaughter and child endangerment resulting in death last December
and is serving 50 years in prison.
The defense will continue its case 9 a.m. Monday.
The reading of Schlitter’s testimony wasn’t completed because the
judge had a prior commitment and she excused the jury early for the
day. The reading of the testimony will continue Monday.
Schlitter in the testimony claimed nobody,
including Parmer and Kamryn’s daycare, who reported the bruises to
DHS, never mentioned the bruising to him until a DHS case worker
contacted him.
First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks,
who prosecuted Schlitter’s case and now Parmer’s, on cross during
Schlitter’s trial asked him didn’t he have a conversation with Parmer
about the bruising because he mentioned it to police.
Schlitter said not a “conversation.” He then
admitted after seeing the transcript from a police interview that he
talked to Parmer about putting Vitamin-K on Kamryn’s black eye.
“I wouldn’t call it a black eye,” Schlitter said.
“It wasn’t very prominent.”
Later in the testimony, Maybanks asks if after he
found out Kamryn had massive head trauma and the doctors told him she
was a victim of child abuse, didn’t he go into her room and say “I’m
sorry” because he knew what he and Parmer had done.
Schlitter said he wasn’t apologizing for himself
and Parmer. He didn’t hurt her. Schlitter added that just because the
doctors told him it was child abuse, it “didn’t mean I believed them.”
Maybanks asked Schlitter didn’t he tell police when
Kamryn’s behavior changed that she was afraid of dark-haired women.
“Wasn’t the inference to Amy Parmer?” Maybanks
said.
Schlitter said “I guess” but he never saw Kamryn
afraid of Parmer or saw Parmer hurt her.
Amy Parmer defense again claims witness changed
testimony, asks for mistrial
Judge grants delay to allow for medical expert
review
By Trish Mehaffey - TheGazette.com
September 5, 2013
In a surprising twist Thursday, some testimony for
Amy Parmer’s defense will be delayed until Monday, so her medical
experts have a chance to review a state witness’ testimony which the
defense claimed completely changed during trial.
Tyler Johnston, Parmer’s attorney, asked for a
mistrial after the state rested, saying Dr. Gary Baumbach, a
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics pathologist, changed his
testimony from Zyriah Schlitter’s trial, who was already convicted in
his 17-month-old daughter Karmyn Schlitter’s death March 28, 2010.
Johnston claimed Baumbach’s changed the timing of
when Kamryn’s injury occurred which implicates Parmer as the one who
inflicted the fatal rotational head injury. He said he never received
new or additional information Baumbach testified to Wednesday. He
asked for a delay in trial so his medical experts had to time to look
at the information Baumbach presented in court.
Sixth Judicial District Judge Marsha Beckelman said
she would allow for a short delay as long as First Assistant Linn
County Attorney Nick Maybanks agreed to it, which he did.
Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, is charged with
first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. She is
accused of inflicting the physical abuse of Kamryn, along with her
ex-boyfriend Zyriah Schlitter.
Schlitter, 25, of Cedar Rapids, was convicted of
involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment resulting in death
last December and is serving 50 years in prison.
The trial will continue 9 a.m. Friday with other
defense witnesses. The medical experts will not testify until Monday.
The trial started Aug. 19. Follow Gazette Reporter Trish Mehaffey’s
continuing live coverage from the courtroom.
Beckelman said Baumbach in the end said he didn’t
change his testimony.
“Isn’t that for a jury to figure out?” Beckelman
said. “Credibility of an expert is (considered) by the jury like any
other witness and they can give it whatever weight they want.”
Beckelman said she was going to allow the delay in
fairness to both sides.
In other testimony, a video of Parmer’s interview
with a special agent of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
was played. In the interview she says Kamryn and her father stayed at
her home almost every night since they got together, which included
the last month of Kamryn’s life.
Parmer said she helped care for Kamryn and even
cleaned up her vomit a few times during the last few weeks of her life
when she was sick. She said Kamryn “was a good girl” never cried for
her.
The defense claimed in its opening that Parmer only
babysat some for Kamryn and wasn’t responsible for her care. Parmer
wasn’t a parent figure in her life.
Parmer said Schlitter would get frustrated with
Kamryn sometimes when she was crying and he would tell her “I don’t
know what to do with you.” She was concerned by his frustration.
Special Agent Darrell Simmons asked if she was
aware of the bruises on Kamryn that DHS was investigating.
Parmer said no but went on to say Kamryn got into
everything. Kamryn’s first day at daycare she was put in timeout five
times for climbing bookshelves. Kamryn also got into her closet at
home another time and a playpen fell on her.
Parmer then said she overheard a conversation
between Schlitter and her sister after Kamryn was taken to the
hospital and Schlitter said Kamryn recently hit her head hard.
Text messages between Parmer and Schlitter sent and
received from March 20 to April 4, 2010 were also shown to the jurors.
In the text, the two are making plans for a life together. They talk
about moving in together and talk about wanting to be together and
have sex, but Kamryn’s condition and the criminal investigation into
her death prevents them.
In some of the texts on March 24, 2010, Parmer is
questioning if Schlitter thinks she is to blame for Kamryn’s injuries.
He says he doesn’t think that.
On March 29, the day after Kamryn is taken off life
support, Parmer is asking if he wants to go to movie. Then later that
night, they are discussing renting a movie and naming different ones.
On March 31, they are talking about having sex and
how much they miss each other, and how it’s unfair that they can’t be
together.
“Time is what we have now,” Schlitter text.
“We don’t have much time together…our families hate
us being with each other,” Parmer replies.
“Well when everything is done, idc, we have all
nights to ourselves. They can’t stop us,” Schlitter text.
“We always have had all nights to ourselves.
Silly,” Parmer replies.
“Nope, but I mean we are free to do more without
worrying bout being walked in on lol,” Schlitter text.
“For five weeks….,” Parmer replies.
Defense challenges medical experts’ testimony in
Amy Parmer murder trial
Timing of toddler's fatal head injury could be
crucial to defense
By Trish Mehaffey - TheGazette.com
September 4, 2013
The defense attorney for a Hiawatha woman on trial
for first-degree murder in the death of 17-month-old Kamryn Schlitter
blasted two medical experts during cross examinations Wednesday who
changed their testimony from previous trials.
Both doctors with the University of Hospitals and
Clinics changed the timing of Kamryn’s rotational head injury that
caused her death, which could be crucial to Johnston’s client, Amy
Parmer, because those different timings could support the state’s case
that Parmer was in control of Kamryn when the fatal injury occurred.
One doctor said her opinion evolved after reviewing
the completed autopsy report and the other doctor said his findings
had also changed after doing more research on the kind of brain injury
Kamryn suffered.
Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, is charged with
first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. She is
accused of inflicting the physical abuse of Kamryn, along with her
ex-boyfriend Zyriah Schlitter, who was also Kamryn’s father. Kamryn
died from blunt force head injuries March 28, 2010.
Schlitter, 25, of Cedar Rapids, was convicted of
involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment resulting in death
last December and is serving 50 years in prison.
The prosecution will wrap up its case Thursday
morning and the defense will likely start in the afternoon. The trial
started Aug. 19. Follow Gazette Reporter Trish Mehaffey’s continuing
live coverage from the courtroom.
Dr. Resmiye Oral, the director of the Child
Protection Program at UI, admitted her direct testimony Tuesday that
Kamryn’s injury occurred within six hours of the 911 call made by
Parmer March 21, 2010 was an arbitrary number. She was being cautious.
She thinks the rotational head injury occurred immediately within the
call based on the medical evidence.
But Johnston challenged her many times, saying in a
letter or report April 5, 2010 Oral said the recent of two head
injuries occurred within 24 to 72 hours.
Oral said he was correct but the autopsy and
investigation wasn’t completed at that point. The autopsy clarified
some things for her. In that letter, she was basing it on information
she had at the time and at the time she thought there was only one
injury but the autopsy revealed two distinct injuries in different
time frames.
“The autopsy doesn’t change the symptoms (Kamryn
displayed)?” Johnston said.
Oral said she didn’t base her diagnosis on just the
symptoms alone. The only reason she chose six hours was because brain
swelling takes time, usually one to 2 hours, to show up on CT.
“I just wanted to be more cautious,” Oral said.
Johnston also challenged Oral with her testimony
from a related juvenile court proceeding in May 2010, saying she had
seen the autopsy then and didn’t change her opinion to within six
hours or less.
Oral said she didn’t think she had reviewed it at
the time. Oral insisted the pathology on the autopsy clarified her
opinion and it did evolve over time with more information.
Dr. Gary Baumbach, a pathologist with UI, testified
Kamryn had two separate bleeding events or injuries. There was
evidence of an older bleed that could have been weeks to months old
and a more recent one that occurred within 12-24 hours of her brain
surgery March 21, 2010.
In a sample he viewed from the sub dural hematoma,
the red blood cells hadn’t broken down, which indicates it was an
“acute event” or recent one, Baumbach said. If it was longer than 24
hours, there would be fibroblast cells in the hematoma, that starts
healing the clot, but those were missing.
First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks
asked if the recent injury could have occurred at noon March 21, 2010.
Baumbach said it was possible. He also said he
couldn’t rule out that the injury might have happened later than noon
that day.
Johnston on cross said Baumbach testified at the
Zyriah Schlitter trial that the hematoma injury occurred 48 to 72
hours at a minimum.
Baumbach admitted he did.
Johnston said in his deposition Baumbach said there
was no way to tell if there were two bleeding events but now he’s
saying there are two?
Baumbach said he wasn’t intentionally changing his
testimony. The reason his opinion changed is because he did some
research on time windows of specific brain hemorrhages and the acute
stage is within 12 to 24 hours.
Maybanks asked Baumbach if he was asked to go back
and do more research to change his opinion for court today.
“No,” Baumbach said.
Doctor says Kamryn Schlitter’s head injury
occured within hours of 911 call
MRI taken in 2010 showed brain had massive stroke,
doctor testifies
By Trish Mehaffey - TheGazette.com
August 28, 2013
Toddler Kamryn Schlitter had acute brain
hemorrhaging and massive swelling, which indicated the head injury
that caused her death, was inflicted within hours to days of when a
911 call was made March 21, 2010, a doctor testified Wednesday.
Dr. Michael D’Alessandro, University of Iowa
professor of radiology and physician with the university’s Children’s
Hospital, said he thought the non-accidental injury, either a shaking
or slamming incident, occurred closer to hours than days.
“There’s a tremendous amount of blood and swelling
(of the brain),” he said. “It would be hard to have this much swelling
and blood in your brain for very long.”
Amy Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, who is charged with
first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death, was
babysitting 17-month-old Kamryn that night and made the 911 call. She
is accused of inflicting physical abuse of Kamryn, along with Kamryn’s
father and her ex-boyfriend Zyriah Schlitter. Kamryn died from blunt
force head injuries March 28, 2010.
Zyriah Schlitter, 25, of Cedar Rapids, was
convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment resulting
in death for his involvement last December. He is serving 50 years in
prison.
The prosecution continues its case 9 a.m. Thursday
in Linn County District Court. More medical experts will testify the
rest of the week.
D’Alessandro said the MRI taken March 22, 2010
showed Kamryn’s brain suffered a massive stroke, which means an
interruption of blood flow to the brain. The stroke could have been
the result of a shaking or a slamming injury.
Kamryn had no other fractures to her body, spine or
neck, which isn’t uncommon for non-accidental trauma, D’Alessandro
said.
D’Alessandro said he ruled out any medical cause
for the bleeding and swelling of Kamryn’s brain. Everything was ruled
out except a non-accidental trauma.
“It could have been a slamming against a hard or
soft surface, a shaking, or a combination of both,” D’Alessandro said.
Tyler Johnston, Parmer’s attorney, on cross
questioned D’Alessandro’s estimate of hours old, citing another
doctor’s findings, who’s not testifying in this case. This doctor said
the injury could be two to three days old.
D’Alessandro said there was evidence on the MRI
that there was also an older brain injury that could be 24 hours to
three days old but the MRI, taken 12 hours after Kamryn was at the
hospital and it was taken after she had surgery, which removed most of
the blood evidence. The CT taken when she arrived March 21, 2010
showed the injury to be more recent – “minutes to hours to days old.”
In making his opinion, D’Alessandro said he also
considered a video of Kamryn taken the day before the 911 call was
made and she was active, talking and playing. He said the injury
occurred after that video was taken.
“I don’t believe a child with the injury I saw on
the CT would have looked and acted like Kamryn did in that video,” he
said.
Dr. Susannah Longmuir, a pediatric ophthalmologist
with UI Hospitals and Clinics, testified about Kamryn’s eyes, which
had retinal hemorrhaging in both eyes. There were also retinal folds
throughout, which indicated a force or acceleration-deceleration
injury.
Longmuir said there is no other explanation for the
layers of folding besides non-accidental trauma.
Doctors testify Kamryn Schlitter was victim of
child abuse
Girl had injuries that couldn’t be explained by an
accidental trauma, doctors said
By Trish Mehaffey - TheGazette.com
August 27, 2013
Two doctors testified Tuesday that 17-month-old Kamryn
Schlitter’s fatal head injuries were the result of child abuse and
could have happened within 24 hours of when Amy Parmer called 911
March 21, 2010.
Both doctors said Kamryn was near death and would
require “heroic” measures to save her when she was airlifted from St.
Luke’s to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics that day.
Dr. Charles Jennissen, emergency room physician and
associate professor with UI, said Kamryn had severe retinal
hemorrhaging which is typical of a child that has been “viciously
shaken.” Her pupils were fixed, which indicated serious neurological
problems, and she had sub-dural bleeding in her brain and the cranial
pressure had caused the brain to shift.
The head injury, that couldn’t be explained by an
accidental trauma, along with bruises on Kamryn’s forehead, cheeks,
jaw area, arms and chest, indicated she was the victim of child abuse,
Dr. Gwen Erkonon, pediatric critical care physician with UI, said.
Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, is charged with
first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. Parmer
is accused in the death of Kamryn, her ex-boyfriend Zyriah Schlitter’s
daughter, who was babysitting her when she died from a blunt force
head injury March 28, 2010.
Zyriah Schlitter, 25, of Cedar Rapids, was
convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment resulting
in death last December. He is serving 50 years in prison.
The prosecution continues its case 9 a.m. Wednesday
in Linn County District Court. Follow Gazette Reporter Trish
Mehaffey’s live coverage from the courtroom.
Both doctors also said they believed the fatal head
injury occurred within 24 hours of the 911 call. They both cited that
a video Karmryn’s father Zyriah Schlitter took March 20, 2010, helped
them come to that opinion because she was functioning normally,
talking and being playful, and displayed no neurological problems like
the next day, March 21.
Jennissen said he believed the head injury occurred
March 21. Besides the video, he also considered history of the child.
He talked to Zyriah Schlitter who said there had been no trauma and
only cited her being more sleepy that day.
Jennissen said initially Zyriah Schlitter wouldn’t
tell him how Kamryn was that day, which he thought was odd. He said
Kamryn had been clingy all week and kept talking about how she acted
that week but wouldn’t answer his question about how her condition was
March 21.
Zyriah Schlitter also didn’t mention much about
Parmer, only that she stayed with Kamryn that night when he left to
attend a financial meeting, Jennissen said. He said Parmer’s
6-year-old son was there that night but made a point to defend him,
saying the boy wouldn’t hurt Kamryn.
Erkonen said the doctors on Kamryn’s case ruled out
everything except inflicted trauma. The retinal hemorrhaging indicated
she had been shaken, causing the acceleration-deceleration injuries to
the brain, which resulted in severe brain swelling and shifting of the
brain.
Erkonen said the pattern of bruising, in different
stages of aging, also indicated she was a battered child. The marks on
her cheeks were like someone squeezing her face and the location of
the forehead bruise wasn’t typical for a child. She also had unusual
bruises on her chest. When a child falls, they typically put their
arms out to protect themselves, she said.
“A shin bruise would be normal if a child fell,”
Erkonen. “The bruising on the arms is also consistent with someone
grabbing her arm.”
Both doctors admitted they couldn’t estimate timing
on when the bruises occurred.
Tyler Johnston, Parmer’s attorney, trying to put
doubt in the juror’s minds that the fatal head injury occurred while
Kamryn was in Parmer’s care March 21, challenged Erkonen on her timing
of the injury.
“This is just based on a ballpark notion of your
experience?” Johnston said.
Erkonen said it wasn’t a “ballpark notion,” it was
based on Kamryn’s condition and her training and experience.
“It’s inflicted trauma that’s acute and occurred
within 24 hours,” Erkonen said.
Johnston challenged her with studies and papers
from other experts in the field regarding timing of inflicted head
trauma and some said this kind of trauma could occur as far out as 36
or 72 hours.
Erkonen stayed with her 24 hours estimate.
Dr. Gregory Albert, a neurosurgeon with the
Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock and a former UI
neurosurgeon, also testified about performing surgery on Kamryn to
relieve pressure of the subdural hematoma in her brain. He removed the
hematoma and part of her skull to allow the brain to swell and
preserve the functioning portion.
The surgery didn’t improve her condition and there
was no other surgical procedure they could do for her.
Kamryn was taken off life support and died March
28, 2010.
Former boyfriend testifies Amy Parmer confessed
to taking a toddler’s life
By Trish Mehaffey - TheGazette.com
August 26, 2013
A former co-worker and boyfriend of Amy Parmer’s
testified Monday she told him in April 2011 that he didn’t want to get
involved with her because she “took the life” of a toddler.
Tim Sprous testified he, Parmer and another
co-worker, Heather Meyers, went out drinking for Meyers’ birthday one
night and Parmer became emotional talking about the death of Kamryn
Schlitter, who died in 2010.
“She said I didn’t want to get involved with her
because she was going away….she took the life of an 18-month-old,”
Sprous said. “I asked her how and she said something about a head
trauma.”
Sprous for the next hour, which became combative at
times, had to defend his statements as Tyler Johnston, Parmer’s
attorney, accused him of lying and taking revenge against Parmer over
paternity of her son.
Monday started the second week of trial for Parmer,
29, of Hiawatha, who is charged with first-degree murder and child
endangerment resulting in death. Parmer is accused in the death of her
ex-boyfriend Zyriah Schlitter’s daughter, 17-month-old Kamryn
Schlitter, who died from blunt force head injuries March 28, 2010.
Zyriah Schlitter, 25, of Cedar Rapids, was
convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment resulting
in death last December. He is serving 50 years in prison.
The defense claims Zyriah Schlitter inflicted
Kamryn’s injuries and Parmer just babysat her.
The trial continues 9 a.m. Tuesday. Follow Gazette
reporter Trish Mehaffey’s live coverage from the courtroom.
Johnston repeatedly questioned Sprous’ truthfulness
on the stand.
“Amy Parmer doesn’t talk like that – ‘I took the
life of an 18-month-old,’” Johnston said.
“That’s what I said,” Sprous fired back. “What do
you mean she doesn’t talk like that?”
Johnston continued to pick at everything Sprous
said until Sprous said at one point “I’m done. I’m not answering any
more questions.” But 6th Judicial District Judge Marsha Beckelman told
him he wasn’t done and he should continue to answer questions.
Johnston said Sprous, who’s been convicted on three
or more felonies, only came forward with this story a year after the
fact because it was part of his “extortion plan” against Parmer. He
claimed Sprous was upset Parmer named him as a potential father of her
son Caleb.
Sprous said he didn’t know about a “plan.” He said
he was in court to do the right thing.
First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks
on re-direct asked again if he was telling the truth.
“Yes, the whole truth and nothing but the truth,”
Sprous said before being excused.
In earlier testimony, three former daycare teachers
at Apple Kids Daycare testified about bruising they saw on Kamryn
Schlitter and what appeared to be make-up over the bruising.
Keri Sotelo, a former teacher, said on March 8,
Kamryn had a bruise on her forehead, bruises on her cheeks and chapped
lips or cuts on her lips. She went home sick that day and didn’t’ come
back until March 15. That day, another teacher wiped off a “substance”
from Kamryn’s face after her snack it appeared to be make-up and the
marks on her face were more visible.
“She had more bruising on her face (on March 15)
and chin,” Sotelo said. “She had a bloody nose.
Sotelo asked Zyriah Schlitter what happened to her
and he said “She liked to beat herself up.”
Andrea Alt, a former teacher, said Parmer, who had
her child at Apple Kids, came into Kamryn’s room that day and asked
how “That little brat over there,” pointing to Kamryn, was doing.
Parmer said the injuries occurred when Kamryn was
running around and fell and hit a table, and that a pack and play fell
and hit her in the head.”
Alt said Parmer then said she was the one who
disciplined Kamryn because her father didn’t. Alt said Parmer brought
up the topic of discipline. They weren’t talking about it.
At the end of the day, flight nurses and doctors
with St. Luke’s Hospital testified that Kamryn was in critical
condition when she was brought in March 21, 2010. Kamryn was
unresponsive, had shallow breathing, an abnormally low body
temperature and she was posturing – involuntary contraction of the
limbs which indicates head trauma.
Dr. Julie Beard, emergency room physician at St.
Luke’s, said Kamryn also had retinal hemorrhaging, which indicated
shaken baby syndrome – an acceleration-deceleration injury to the head
or brain.
Woman testifies Amy Parmer told her about
“killing a kid”
By Trish Mehaffey - TheGazette.com
August 23, 2013
A former employee of Amy Parmer’s testified Friday
that Parmer told her in 2011 that she “might have killed a kid.”
Heather Meyers, 29, said Parmer told her this as
she was giving Parmer a ride home from work. Parmer became emotional
and started to cry.
“I was in shock,” Meyers said.
Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, is charged with
first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. She is
accused in the death of Kamryn, who died of blunt force head injuries
March 28, 2010.
According to the prosecution, Parmer, along with
ex-boyfriend Zyriah Schlitter, 26, both inflicted Kamryn’s physical
abuse or each knew of the other’s abuse and did nothing to stop it the
last month of her life, while Schlitter, Kamryn’s father, had sole
custody of the child.
Zyriah Schlitter of Cedar Rapids was convicted of
involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment resulting in death
last December. He is serving 50 years in prison.
The defense claims Schlitter inflicted the injuries
to Kamryn and Parmer just babysat her while she was with Schlitter,
according to an opening statement Thursday.
The prosecution continues its case 9 a.m. Monday.
The trial is expected to go into September.
Meyers said she didn’t ask Parmer any further
details about her statement or how she might have killed a child.
“I was just there being a friend,” Meyers said. “I
wasn’t trying to get anyone in trouble.”
Meyers said she didn’t tell police about it. She
initially thought “it wasn’t big deal” or it was “blown out of
proportion.” An Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agent called
her about the statement.
Tyler Johnston on cross examination asked Meyers if
it was possible that Parmer said “DHS thinks I might have killed a
kid?”
Meyers said she didn’t know but it’s possible.
Then, on re-direct, when First Assistant Linn
County Attorney Nick Maybanks asked when Parmer said “I might have
killed a kid,” did she say DHS was investigating her.
Meyers said no about DHS and didn’t dispute that
Parmer made that statement.
Eric Olmstead, a former co-worker of Parmer,
testified about a text message he sent Parmer March 20, 2010, the day
before Kamryn was taken to the hospital.
Olmstead asked her to “hang out” the next day with
him.
Parmer replied, “What do you want to do. I’m seeing
someone. You should know that.”
In another reply, she says “I love kids but his
daughter is ending us. She’s the most obnoxious kid in the world. I’ll
try to get a babysitter.”
Parmer was taking care of Kamryn March 21, 2010,
when she stopped breathing and Parmer called 911, according to
testimony from Zyriah Schlitter’s trial.
In earlier testimony Friday, relatives of Kamryn
and her mother Nicole King testified about Kamryn’s behavior and any
bruises she had the month of March 2010. All of the family members
said they didn’t consider the bruises as severe or unusual. They also
denied knowing Parmer and most said they hadn’t met her.
Jeri King, Kamryn’s grandmother who now lives in
Arkansas, said Kamryn was never sick or had bruising like what was
being shown to her in court. In the photos, Kamryn had a large bruise
on her forehead and bruises on her cheeks.
Jeri King said Zyriah Schlitter would become
frustrated with Kamryn at times, mostly when Kamryn would cry and be
fussy.
She cited two incidents when Zyriah Schlitter
became upset with Kamryn. He yelled at her and another time he roughly
pulled her out of a walker when her legs got stuck and left markings
on her leg.
Jeri King said Kamryn’s behavior changed in March
when she came back to visit and Kamryn began hitting.
“She hit me and hit herself,” Jeri King said. “I
thought that was odd. She grabbed my hand and hit herself and then
looked at me.”
Jeri King started crying when she talked about the
next time she saw Kamryn in the hospital March 21, 2010. She said
Kamryn had tubes coming out of her and she was bruised all over – “her
face, armpits, chest.”
Jeri King took photos on March 22, after seeing
those injuries because she had never seen any bruising like that on
Kamryn before.
Victim’s mother testifies in Amy Parmer trial
Mother forced to defend her actions when testifying
against woman accused in death of her child
TheGazette.com
August 22, 2013
The mother of 17-month-old Kamryn Schlitter was
called to testify about how her daughter’s behavior changed as she
became the victim of child abuse while in the custody of her father
and his girlfriend, Amy Parmer, who’s on trial for the toddler’s
death.
Instead, Nicole King, 24, now living in Arkansas,
mostly had to defend her own actions as Parmer’s attorney aggressively
questioned her on why she didn’t notice the bruising or injuries and
why she didn’t see Kamryn more that last month of her life.
Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, is charged with
first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. She is
accused in the death of Kamryn, who died of blunt force head injuries
March 28, 2010.
According to the prosecution, Parmer, along with
ex-boyfriend Zyriah Schlitter, 26, both inflicted Kamryn’s physical
abuse or each knew of the other’s abuse and did nothing to stop it the
last month of her life, while Schlitter, Kamryn’s father, had sole
custody of the child.
Zyriah Schlitter of Cedar Rapids was convicted of
involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment resulting in death
last December. He is serving 50 years in prison.
The defense in an opening statement is claiming
Schlitter inflicted the injuries that killed his daughter and Parmer
“had the unfortunate incident of being in the care of the child when
she was already sick and injured.” She was just the babysitter.
The prosecution continues its case 9 a.m. Friday.
The trial is expected to last three weeks.
King testified she noticed bruising on Kamryn in
March 2010 but she didn’t see her every day. King had to move out of
her parent’s home when they divorced and she didn’t have a stable
place to stay or money to support her daughter, so she asked Schlitter
if he would take Kamryn for a month.
King said she had been the primary caregiver for
Kamryn. Schlitter would become frustrated with her and angry when she
wouldn’t listen to him or when she would cry.
King broke up with Schlitter because he became
angry with Kamryn when she wouldn’t stop crying. He rolled up some
blankets and threw them in the crib and cursed at her.
“He was looking at Kamryn when he said it,” King
said. “I told him to get his (stuff) and get out.”
In previous incidents, Schlitter would yell at
Kamryn and he “sat her down hard” when putting her in timeout, King
said.
King tried to see Kamryn often during that month
but it didn’t always work out. During that month, Kamryn had an ear
infection and she noticed bruises on her forehead and cheek during the
period of March 8-12.
During a March 17 visit, Kamryn wouldn’t sit by her
and she was still sick and taking medication. She remembered seeing
plum size bruise on her forehead that wasn’t there March 12.
On March 19, Kamryn screamed and ripped out her
hair when they were visiting King’s aunt, King said. Then, her mood
calmed down when they were going to leave.
“She was laughing in the car,” King said.
That was the last time she heard that laugh, King
said.
King said when she was called to the hospital March
21, when Parmer was babysitting her while Schlitter attended a
financial class, Kamryn wasn’t breathing.
“She was covered in bruises,” King said tearing up.
“Everything was swollen. Her lips were swollen….cut up. She was deaf
and blind.”
King said she hadn’t seen those injuries before.
Tyler Johnston, Parmer’s attorney, on cross started
grilling King on why she let her child go back to Schlitter after
seeing all the brusies and knowing he had anger issues.
“You said Kamryn was behaving in an alarming way,”
Johnston said.
King said she was but she just thought she was
sick. She didn’t think Schlitter would hurt his daughter.
Johnston said several times that while King wasn’t
around, Parmer was there taking care of Kamryn.
King said she didn’t know Parmer was caring for her
child. She thought Kamryn stayed at a church daycare when Schlitter
was attending financial meetings every Sunday.
Johnston also kept pushing King about what when she
last saw Kamryn, whether it was the day before Kamryn was taken to the
hospital.
King repeatedly said she didn’t know. She may have
told the police the wrong date of the week. She was under stress. They
questioned her March 21, while Kamryn was having the first of two
brain surgeries in an attempt to save her life.
Opening statements Thursday in Hiawatha woman’s
murder trial
By Trish Mehaffey - TheGazette.com
August 21, 2013
A jury was seated late Wednesday afternoon and
opening statements will begin Thursday in the Amy Parmer murder trial.
Opening statements will start 9 a.m. in Linn County
District Court. Jury selection began Monday and the trial is expected
to last three weeks.
Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, is charged with
first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. She is
accused of causing or having knowledge of the physical abuse that led
to the death of 17-month-old Kamryn Schlitter, according to a criminal
complaint. Kamryn died of blunt force head injuries March 28, 2010.
According to the prosecution’s theory, Parmer,
along with Kamryn’s father and her ex-boyfriend, Zyriah Schlitter, 25,
both inflicted Kamryn’s physical abuse or knew of the other’s abuse
and did nothing to stop it while Schlitter had sole custody of the
child for the last month of her life.
Zyriah Schlitter of Cedar Rapids was convicted of
involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment resulting in death
last December. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
