A prayer service for two children who allegedly were murdered by their mother will be held at 7 p.m. today, May 29, at the Twin City Little Leage Field No. 2, 133 Little League Drive, in Crystal City.
Ashley Parmeley, 36, of Pevely has been charged in Jefferson County for allegedly killing her 2-year-old son, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is seeking further charges against her for the death of her 9-year-old daughter through the St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Sheriff Dave Marshak announced Tuesday, May 28.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has not identified the victims. However, the Festus R-6 School District sent a letter to parents Tuesday identifying the girl as Scarlet Parmeley.
The district said Scarlet had recently completed third grade at Festus Elementary School. The district’s final day of the 2023-2024 school year was May 24.
“Scarlet’s teachers and administrators say she was a bubbly, energetic, and trustworthy student,” the letter said. “They say she was caring and compassionate, eager to please, with a good sense of humor. She could make friends with anyone and she was very much looking forward to moving to the fourth grade when classes resume in August.”
On its Facebook page, the Twin City Little League said all games have been canceled for tonight except the one Scarlet was scheduled to play in. The league said the game is being played because the girl’s “teammates would like to honor her memory.”
At about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Ashley Parmeley drove to the Festus Police Station, 100 Park Ave., and reportedly told officers she had murdered her children. She allegedly said she drowned one child and shot the other, the probable-cause statement in the case said.
Festus Police found Scarlet in a Mazda SUV that Ashley Parmeley had driven to the Police Station. Scarlet has been shot, and despite officers performing life-saving measures, she died, the report said.
Ashley Parmeley told officers she had drowned her other child, the 2-year-old boy, at the Timber Creek Resort south of Olympian Village. Festus Police contacted the Sheriff’s Office about the boy, and deputies immediately were dispatched to the resort at 4800 Hwy. 67, according to the report.
Deputies found the 2-year-old boy in a fountain, and a deputy dove into the water to retrieve him. Deputies performed life-saving measures, but the boy died.
Marshak said investigators believe Scarlet was shot in the 9000 block of Hwy. E near Bonne Terre, which is in St. Francois County. He said it looks like the boy was drowned after the shooting.
The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Ashley Parmeley, who also has lived in Festus, with second-degree murder, a class A felony punishable by 10 to 30 years or life in prison, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
On Tuesday evening, Marshak said it was too early to know Ashley Parmeley’s motives, adding that he was not aware of any previous police interaction with her.
Court records show Ashley Parmeley had been cited for various traffic infractions and was part of a court case involving the custody of a child.