14-month-old Indiana toddler’s death ruled homicide, family friend held as suspect

The body of 14-month-old Shaylyn Ammerman was found Thursday evening on a remote bank of the White River, about 10 miles from her Spencer, Ind., home. The child, who was discovered missing on Wednesday morning, died of asphyxiation. Her death has been ruled a homicide.

The child’s father, Justin Ammerman, put her to bed Tuesday night and her grandmother checked on her at about midnight. That was the last time the toddler was seen alive. Kyle Parker, a 22-year-old Indiana man who is reported to be a “family acquaintance” and has visited the home on numerous occasions has been arrested. Ammerman is also listed as a person of interest in the case.

Search and rescue crews combed Owen County on Wednesday and Thursday, eventually making their way to a remote bank of the White River near Gosport.

According to Ammerman, Parker was at their home on Tuesday night. The child’s father denies that there was a party going on, but family members have reported that he, along with Shaylyn’s grandfather, uncle and Parker, were up late drinking and watching TV.  Parker reportedly left the home at about 2 a.m. The family realized the toddler was missing the next morning.

The child’s grandmother, Tamera Morgan, said that Parker always spoke kindly and played with the little girl.She says that Shaylyn awoke at one point on Tuesday evening and Parker rocked her back to sleep.

Shaylyn’s mother, Jessica Stewart, and Ammerman shared custody of the 14-month-old, who was spending the week with her father at the time of her disappearance. Stewart said she believed her daughter had been abducted, and that Ammerman knew more than he was letting on. Morgan says her son had nothing to do with the disappearance.

Parker is refusing to speak to the police, and Owen County Sheriff Leonard Sam Hobbs said on Friday that there are many questions still unanswered. He faces possible charges of failure to report a dead body, unlawful disposition of a dead body, and obstruction of justice.