Indianapolis News and Headlines

Actions

Prosecutors file five new counts, ask for life without parole in Shaylyn Ammerman case

Kyle Parker arrested in March for infant's murder
Posted at 4:10 PM, Sep 13, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-14 06:30:00-04

SPENCER, Ind. -- Prosecutors will ask for life without parole on five new counts filed Monday against the man accused of abducting, molesting and killing an Owen County

Kyle Parker was charged in March with taking 1-year-old Shaylyn Ammerman from her crib while she slept, sexually assaulting her and then killing her before dumping her body along the White River near Gosport, Indiana.

The doctor who performed the autopsy on Shaylyn's body described her injuries as "the worst case of sexual trauma" she had seen in her career.

Click the image below to see how police believe Shaylyn's death unfolded in the hours between her abduction and the discovery of her body:

The Owen County prosecutor previously said he was considering the death penalty in the case, but appears to have moved away from that option.

On Monday, the prosecutor's office filed a request to add five new aggravating circumstance charges to the case, all stemming from the primary murder charge and all attached to a request for a sentence of life without parole.

Parker has been in police custody since his arrest in March. Owen County Jail staff previously told RTV6 they had him under constant camera surveillance after he was placed on suicide watch.

Parker was expected back in court October 5 for a pretrial conference.  

PREVIOUS | Search warrant issued for Facebook records in Shaylyn Ammerman case | Shaylyn Ammerman's dad, uncle describe hours before she went missing | Suspect charged with rape, murder and molestation in Shaylyn Ammerman case