Judge reduces bond for Hiawatha woman charged in toddler's death

A judge reduced a $500,000 bond to $100,000 Friday for a Hiawatha woman charged with killing a toddler last year.

Amy Parmer, 27, charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death, will be allowed to pay 10 percent of the $100,000 cash or surety bond pending her trial. A preliminary hearing is set July 15 in Linn County District Court, unless trial information from the state is filed before that date.

Parmer and her ex-boyfriend Zyriah Schlitter, 24, of Cedar Rapids, also charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death, are accused of killing Schlitter's 17-month-old daughter Kamryn Schlitter. Kamryn died March 28, 2010 from serious head injuries, according to a criminal complaint.

Schlitter and Parmer had exclusive care and custody of Kamryn from March 1-21, 2010 and while at a daycare center on March 8 and March 15, workers noticed bruising to Kamryn's face, according to the complaint.

The complaint alleges Parmer and Schlitter either individually or jointly inflicted the fatal injuries to the victim, knowingly permitted the other co-defendant to abuse the victim and/or failed to protect the child from the other co-defendant.

Tyler Johnston, Parmer's attorney, argued Friday the $500,000 bond was excessive and asked the court to place Parmer under supervision with the Department of Corrections pending her trial.

Johnston said Parmer has a minimal criminal record, which includes an OWI, driving while suspended and a fifth-degree theft charge, and she isn't a flight risk or a risk to the community. The investigation was pending a year before Parmer and Schlitter were charged, and Parmer stayed in the community, Johnston said.

The state recommended the bond remain as set based on the seriousness of the crime.

Sixth Judicial District Associate Judge Casey Jones said he was reducing the bond because he didn't think there was a flight risk and the $500,000 bond wasn't appropriate according to the state code regarding bonds.

Parmer and Zyriah Schlitter have also been named in a wrongful death civil lawsuit filed in March. Kamryn's mother, Nicole King, accused them of "beating and abuse" that led to Kamryn's death.

Local daycare Apple Kids, Inc., owner Kendran Imhoff and former owner Lisa Burkle are also named as defendants in the civil lawsuit. The lawsuit accuses the daycare of failing to report a bruise on Kamryn to the Iowa Department of Human Services.