SPENCER – Owen County prosecutors will seek life without parole for the man accused of raping and smothering 15-month-old Shaylyn Ammerman.
Kyle Parker, 23, was arrested earlier this year on charges of kidnapping, rape and murder. Owen County Prosecutor Donald VanDerMoere filed a motion Monday to add aggravating circumstances to the charges.
In the new filing aggravating circumstances include: killing the victim while attempting or committing child molesting, killing the victim while attempting or committing kidnapping, killing the victim while attempting or committing rape, killing a child younger than 12 years of age and killing the victim while mutilating or torturing the victim.
VanDerMoere said Tuesday that he will have to prove one or more of the aggravating circumstances for Parker to receive the life sentence, if Parker is found guilty of the murder.
Shaylyn went missing from her Spencer home in late March of last year.
Police believe Parker stayed up drinking whiskey and vodka with the child’s uncle on March 23, according to court documents.
He waited for the family to fall asleep before taking Shaylyn from her bed and driving to nearby Gosport, where he raped her, smothered her and left her behind, authorities said.
Her body was discovered in Gosport the next day.
Parker initially denied having anything to do with Shaylyn’s death, according to a probable cause affidavit.
During several interviews, Parker eventually revealed that he had taken Shaylyn from the family’s Spencer home, driven her to Gosport, raped her and smothered her, according to the affidavit.
He admitted to attempting to destroy evidence that might connect him to Shaylyn’s death.
Parker was later placed under suicide watch in the Owen County Jail.
A pretrial conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 5.
Hannah Alani
