A Pevely mother accused of killing her two children last month will now be tried for the murder charges filed against her in Jefferson County only.
Previously, Ashley Parmeley, 36, of Pevely was to be tried for one murder charge in Jefferson County and the other in St. Francois County.
However, Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Trisha Stefanski and St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney Blake Dudley jointly announced today, June 7, that the charges are being consolidated, which means both the first-degree murder charges Parmeley is facing will be taken up in Jefferson County now.
In a Facebook post announcing the decision, Stefanski said Missouri law allows for homicide charges to be filed: in the county in which the offense is committed, in any county where any element of the offense occurred, in the county in which the body of the deceased victim is found, or in the county in which the victim lived if the first three options do not apply.
“Consolidating the cases into one case in Jefferson County is not only more efficient, but most importantly, prevents the families of the victims from having to go through this process in two criminal cases,” she wrote.
The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Parmeley with first-degree murder on May 29 for the death of her 2-year-old son, Isaac James Baum of Festus. She initially was charged with second-degree murder on May 28, but the charge was upgraded the next day when Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigators provided additional information.
The St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Parmeley on May 29 with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the death of her 9-year-old daughter, Scarlet Ahnahleigh Parmeley-Daugherty of Pevely.
According to Missouri state statutes, first-degree murder is a class A felony punishable by either death or life imprisonment without eligibility for probation, parole or release except by act of the governor. Armed criminal action is an unclassified felony and carries a penalty of three to 15 years in prison.
At about 10:30 a.m. May 28, Parmeley, who also has lived in Festus, drove to the Festus Police Station, 100 Park Ave., and told officers she killed her children, the probable-cause statement in the case said.
Officers found Scarlet in the trunk of the Mazda SUV that Parmeley drove to the Police Station. Scarlet had a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene, the report said.
Sheriff’s Office deputies found Isaac in a fountain near the entrance of the Timber Creek Resort, 4800 Hwy. 67, south of Olympian Village. A deputy dove into the water to retrieve the boy. Isaac was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the report.
Parmeley allegedly told investigators she shot Scarlet in the 9000 block of Hwy. E near Bonne Terre, which is in St. Francois County. She also said before shooting Scarlet she tried to “sacrifice” Isaac in St. Francois, but he was alive when she drove into Jefferson County, where she drowned him at the resort, Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak said.