Woman testifies Amy Parmer told her about 'killing a kid'

A former employee of Amy Parmer's testified Friday that Parmer told her in 2011 that she “might have killed a kid.”

Heather Meyers, 29, said Parmer told her this as she was giving Parmer a ride home from work. Parmer became emotional and started to cry.

“I was in shock,” Meyers said.

Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, is charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. She is accused in the death of Kamryn, who died of blunt force head injuries March 28, 2010.

According to the prosecution, Parmer, along with ex-boyfriend Zyriah Schlitter, 26, both inflicted Kamryn's physical abuse or each knew of the other's abuse and did nothing to stop it the last month of her life, while Schlitter, Kamryn's father, had sole custody of the child.

Zyriah Schlitter of Cedar Rapids was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment resulting in death last December. He is serving 50 years in prison.

The defense claims Schlitter inflicted the injuries to Kamryn and Parmer just babysat her while she was with Schlitter, according to an opening statement Thursday.

The prosecution continues its case 9 a.m. Monday. The trial is expected to go into September.

Follow Gazette Reporter Trish Mehaffey's live coverage from the courtroom as it continues Monday.

Meyers said she didn't ask Parmer any further details about her statement or how she might have killed a child.

“I was just there being a friend,” Meyers said. “I wasn't trying to get anyone in trouble.”

Meyers said she didn't tell police about it. She initially thought “it wasn't big deal” or it was “blown out of proportion.” An Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agent called her about the statement.

Tyler Johnston on cross examination asked Meyers if it was possible that Parmer said “DHS thinks I might have killed a kid?”

Meyers said she didn't know but it's possible.

Then, on re-direct, when First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks asked when Parmer said “I might have killed a kid,” did she say DHS was investigating her.

Meyers said no about DHS and didn't dispute that Parmer made that statement.

Eric Olmstead, a former co-worker of Parmer, testified about a text message he sent Parmer March 20, 2010, the day before Kamryn was taken to the hospital.

Olmstead asked her to “hang out” the next day with him.

Parmer replied, “What do you want to do. I'm seeing someone. You should know that.”

In another reply, she says “I love kids but his daughter is ending us. She's the most obnoxious kid in the world. I'll try to get a babysitter.”

Parmer was taking care of Kamryn March 21, 2010, when she stopped breathing and Parmer called 911, according to testimony from Zyriah Schlitter's trial.

In earlier testimony Friday, relatives of Kamryn and her mother Nicole King testified about Kamryn's behavior and any bruises she had the month of March 2010. All of the family members said they didn't consider the bruises as severe or unusual. They also denied knowing Parmer and most said they hadn't met her.

Jeri King, Kamryn's grandmother who now lives in Arkansas, said Kamryn was never sick or had bruising like what was being shown to her in court. In the photos, Kamryn had a large bruise on her forehead and bruises on her cheeks.

Jeri King said Zyriah Schlitter would become frustrated with Kamryn at times, mostly when Kamryn would cry and be fussy.

She cited two incidents when Zyriah Schlitter became upset with Kamryn. He yelled at her and another time he roughly pulled her out of a walker when her legs got stuck and left markings on her leg.

Jeri King said Kamryn's behavior changed in March when she came back to visit and Kamryn began hitting.

“She hit me and hit herself,” Jeri King said. “I thought that was odd. She grabbed my hand and hit herself and then looked at me.”

Jeri King started crying when she talked about the next time she saw Kamryn in the hospital March 21, 2010. She said Kamryn had tubes coming out of her and she was bruised all over – “her face, armpits, chest.”

Jeri King took photos on March 22, after seeing those injuries because she had never seen any bruising like that on Kamryn before.