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Judge Sentences Kyle Parker To 60 Years In Toddler's Death

By Barbara Brosher

Posted February 27, 2017

An Owen County judge sentenced Kyle Parker to 60 years in prison Monday for kidnapping and murdering 1-year-old Shaylyn Ammerman. Owen County Prosecutor Donald VanDerMoere said it was the only way to ensure a conviction because of weak evidence in the case.

"It isn't what we want in our hearts," VanDerMoere said. "It's just the right thing to do."

Court documents say Parker confessed to the crime while talking to his stepfather after Shaylyn disappeared last year, but he gave police conflicting information during multiple interviews. He was one of two people who failed a polygraph test about Shaylyn's disappearance.

"That's something we can't run from," VanDerMoere said during the hearing.

There was also no DNA evidence in the case.

VanDerMoere said the jury might also question the credibility of some witnesses because of evidence the defense could use against them. Police seized some witnesses' computers as part of the investigation and found Internet histories that included searches for graphic, violent pornography.

As part of the plea agreement, Parker pleaded guilty to the charges of murder and kidnapping. The six other charges against him, including rape and child molestation, were dropped.

Judge Lori Thatcher Quillen said during the hearing she wished Parker could face life without parole or the death penalty, but the plea agreement was the only way to ensure a conviction.

"Your actions were pure evil," she said to Parker.

Both of Shaylyn's parents testified during the hearing. Her father, Justin Ammerman, says he wishes Parker could face the death penalty, but thinks the plea agreement is the best outcome.

"I mean I'm just happy he got what he got," Justin says. "It may not have been what I wanted, but he's not going to make it out alive."

Parker didn't speak during the hearing, but his mother testified in favor of the plea agreement. She says her home was vandalized multiple times because of the charges her son faced. VanDerMoere thanked her husband for cooperating with the investigation and asked people to stop harassing the family.

Meanwhile, protesters held signs outside the courthouse. They wanted Parker to face all of his original charges and yelled "You're a baby killer" as police drove him away.

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VanDerMoere says Parker will serve up to 75 percent of his sentence, meaning he will be eligible for release when he's 67. He will have to register as a violent offender upon his release.

But, Shaylyn's grandmother Tamera Morgan doesn't think that will happen.

"We've got pretty much little bets going around our apartment complex," Morgan says. "If he makes it past six months, he'll be lucky."

The medical examiner who conducted Shaylyn's autopsy called it the worst case of sexual trauma she'd ever seen.

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