The man accused of raping and murdering 1-year-old Shaylyn Ammerman pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday.
Kyle Parker appeared in Owen County court via a video conferencing feed from the Owen County Jail. He faces charges of rape, murder, child molesting, kidnapping, aggravated battery, strangulation, obstruction of justice and failure to report a dead body.
According to court documents, Parker was at the home of Shaylyn's father, Justin Ammerman, the night the toddler disappeared. He was drinking with Adam Ammerman, Shaylyn's uncle.
Adam told police he woke up to the sound of the front door shutting between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. When he looked outside, he saw Parker walking away from the house. Adam told police it appeared Parker was carrying something and he thought he saw a foot dangling, but he went back to bed because he wasn't sure.
Friends who saw Parker later that morning told police the normally outgoing 22-year-old was quiet and distant.
When police decided to bring Parker in for an interview, they noticed fresh scratches on his forearms and hands. Parker claimed the injuries came from cats.
He initially denied any involvement in the disappearance and death of Shaylyn, but eventually showed police the location of the toddler's body on a map.
Court documents show Parker initially tried to pin the crime on Adam, but a polygraph test revealed Adam was telling the truth about not being involved.
According to court documents, Parker eventually confessed to the crime while talking to his step father. He told his step father he acted alone and used bleach to remove potential DNA evidence from his body and the body of Shaylyn. He said he burned the toddler's clothing and pacifier and planned to pin the crime on one of Shaylyn's family members to avoid charges.
Dr. Donna Stewart conducted Shaylyn's autopsy last week and determined the girl died of asphyxiation. According to court documents, it is the worst case of sexual trauma Stewart's seen in her career.
The case has also been difficult for police. The county is offering counseling services to officers involved in the case.
"This is the first time in my tenure that I've seen grown law enforcement officers just wince in pain," Owen County Prosecutor Don VanDerMoere says. "It's just horrible."
VanDerMoere says Parker could face decades in jail if convicted.
"At this point we're not going to make an emotional decision regarding the death penalty or life without parole request," he says.
VanDerMoere says that decision could come within the next couple of months.
Indiana State Police say they do not anticipate any additional arrests, but the investigation is still ongoing.
Judge Lori Thatcher Quillen appointed an attorney to Parker and set a hearing for August 10.
