JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. — A 36-year-old Jefferson County mother who told police she killed her two children Tuesday is now facing first-degree murder charges in both of their deaths.
Ashley Parmeley is being held in the Jefferson County Jail without bond.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said Parmeley showed up to the Festus Police Department at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and told an officer she killed her two children, 9-year-old Scarlet Parmeley-Daugherty and 2-year-old Isaac Baum.
Court documents said police found the little girl with a gunshot wound in the trunk of Parmeley's car at the police station.
“They attempted life-saving measures, but were unable to successfully save the nine-year-old,” Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak said.
Investigators said Parmeley told them she was driving in St. Francois County on Tuesday morning, pulled off the road, got out of the car and shot her daughter near a pond.
5 On Your Side saw deputies with metal detectors searching near a pond off of Highway E.
Parmeley is facing first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges in the death of Scarlet.
“It's very difficult, just the idea of it is unheard of, and it's hard to understand,” Festus resident Alicia Vazquez said. "But when it's this close to home, like in our backyard, we could see that, from our front door. We could see that police tape, the caution tape and the tent set up from our front porch. And that just hurt knowing what was going on."
A memorial just feet from where Scarlet died outside of the Festus Police Department continued to grow Wednesday.
A young man who came to pay his respects said his little sister is hurting after the loss of her friend.
“All she knows is that she’ll never see her again. But like, we told her just remember the good times,” Festus resident Steven Schult said.
Charges in connection with 2-year-old Isaac's death were upgraded from second-degree murder to first-degree murder late Wednesday after obtaining additional information.
According to a probable cause statement, Parmeley told police that she had attempted to "sacrifice" her son, but while she was driving, she realized he was still alive and stopped at the Timber Creek Resort, where she drowned him in a fountain.
Another small memorial popped up on Wednesday where his body was found.
Vazquez said as a mom of kids of a similar age, this tragedy has been hard on her, her family as well as the whole community.
“I think everybody's just at a loss for words," she said. "I think a lot of people in our community feel it. Like, they might not have known this family, they might not have kids in the school, but we're all a community, and they want to help and support."
To support Scarlet’s family with funeral expenses, you can donate here. To help Isaac’s family, click here.
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