Slain 1-year-old Shaylyn Ammerman laid to rest
Shaylyn Ammerman, the 1-year-old girl who was brutally raped and smothered to death last week, was laid to rest Wednesday, March 30, at the Christian Life Center in Spencer, Ind.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, hundreds filed into the center, most leaving with wet eyes and their faces buried in the arms of a friend or loved one.
When Shaylyn's father would step outside to smoke, a family member or friend would often accompany him to provide some comfort while he took pulls from his cigarette.
One man, who said he worked with Shaylyn's maternal grandfather at a dump truck company, told IndyStar he'd driven all the way from Indianapolis to pay his respects. He said he'd never met Shaylyn, but knew how torn up her grandfather was, and thought coming down from Indy was the right thing to do.
Shaylyn's body was found March 24 next to a tree in an isolated, rural patch of land where the White River and Indian Creek meet, just outside of Gosport. She was suffocated, an autopsy showed, and badly bruised.
Kyle Parker, 22, has been charged with rape, murder, child molesting, kidnapping and other counts in connection with Shaylyn's death. He was put on suicide watch Wednesday and isolated in a padded cell in a sleeping bag for suicidal inmates. Jail officials said he is on constant video surveillance, and checked by staff every 15 minutes.
Visitation was held at the center from 3 to 7 p.m., with the funeral immediately following. Law enforcement officers from the Indiana State Police, Owen County Sheriff's office and Spencer Police Department were given a private viewing earlier in the day, State Police Sgt. Curt Durnil told IndyStar.
After the funeral, attendees stood outside and waited in the rain for the Shaylyn's casket to be loaded into the hearse and taken to her final resting place for a private burial.
Call IndyStar reporter Michael Anthony Adams at (317) 444-6123. Follow him on Twitter: @michaeladams317.
Suspect in killing of 1-year-old Shaylyn Ammerman on suicide watch