Karen S. Smith age 74 of Salem passed away, Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Floyd Memorial Hospital.
Ms. Smith was born January 11, 1942 in Salem, Indiana the daughter of William and Mabel Bell Fultz. She attended the First Christian Church .
Karen was employed at Collet Enterprise for the last 15 yrs. Karen was formally employed at the License Branch; she also ran her own ceramic shop, and was a homemaker. Karen is survived by her sister Marcia Fultz of Kansas. Karen waspreceded in death by her parents: William and Mabel Bell Fultz and her son: Kevin Smith and her daughter: Laural Smith. And Brother Kent Fultz .
There will be a memorial service at Weathers Funeral Home Thursday, March 31, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.
Jennifer Louise Fox Hessig, age 54, of Salem, formerly of Terre Haute, passed away on March 24, 2016. She was born on March 9, 1962 to James and Jackie Fox, both survive.
Other survivors include: husband, Tony Hessig; 2 sons, Douglas James Collier and Adam Vandenbrink; 2 sisters, Jill Mason (Gary) and Jo Knoblett; several nieces and nephews and dear friend Robert Boggs.
Preceded in death by: brother, Jack Richard Fox.
Visitation will be 11am-1pm Monday at Hughes-Taylor Funeral Home in Salem.
There will be a private service at Callahan-Hughes Funeral Home in Terre Haute.
Online expressions: www.hughestaylor.net
Mrs. Alice Cravens Purnell age 71, formerly of Borden, passed away Thursday, March 24 at Kindred Hospital in Louisville.
Mrs. Purnell was born January 27, 1945 in Jamestown, Tennessee the daughter of Curtis and Ernie Copeland Cravens. She was a homemaker.
Alice married Jimmy Sparks who preceded her in death, she then married Charles Purnell. She is survived by her husband: Charles Purnell, two sons: James Sparks of Borden and Paul W. Sparks of Chattanooga, Tennessee and two grandchildren: Payton Sparks and Maycee Sparks. She was preceded in death by her first husband: Jimmy Sparks, two brothers: James C. Cravens and Jimmy Ray Cravens, four sisters: Cora Cravens Hargis, Arizona Cravens Lee, Margaret Jane Cravens Smith, Vetchel Cravens Anderson and a half-sister: Gene Walls.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 6:00PM at Weathers Funeral Home. Visitation will be Monday from 4-6PMMonday at Weathers Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held Tuesday at 1:00PM at Tomlinson Cemetery in Muncie, Indiana.
A 22-year old man arrested in connection with the death of 14-month-old Shaylyn Ammerman in Owen County is being held on multiple charges.
Kyle Parker faces two counts of obstruction of justice, a count of failure to report a dead body and a count of unlawful disposition of a dead body
According to officials at the Owen County Jail, Kyle Parker faces two counts of obstruction of justice, a count of failure to report a dead body and a count of unlawful disposition of a dead body.
Friday morning, Owen County Sheriff Leonard Sam Hobbs offered only a cursory update on the investigation, deferring to Indiana State Police.
He said Parker hasn’t made any statements since being taken to the Owen County Jail.
He described the investigation as ongoing and said it would be a “long day” for investigators as they gather information about the case. Investigators were awaiting autopsy results Friday.
The body of Shaylyn Ammerman was found Thursday night.
According to Indiana State Police, the remains were discovered around 6 p.m. in a remote area located near the White River and northeast of Gosport.
Police announced late Thursday that Parker had been arrested in connection with the case.
“The baby’s safe with God now,” Hobbs told reporters Friday. “A tragedy like this can bring out the best in people. The community has been nothing but the best, and I thank God for that.”
Hobbs said there were three or four “persons of interest” in the case. He couldn’t comment on any warrants related to the investigation. As for Parker, Indiana State Police said they were still connecting the dots.
“We do know he was in the house that night, but we don’t know where his whereabouts were, we cannot draw a map right now of what happened when he left that house,” Sgt. Curt Durnil with Indiana State Police said Thursday night.
“We do not believe he was family, however he was allowed in the home on the night of her disappearance,” Durnil told WSLM.
The little girl was reported missing Wednesday morning. She was last seen at the home where her father and grandmother live in the 400 block of West Jefferson Street in Spencer.
Her father, Justin Ammerman, said his mother put the child down for bed just before midnight Tuesday. When he woke in the morning, she was gone, setting off a large search.
Durnil said the investigation was far from over
“Let me be really frank here. Please don’t feel like because we’ve found a body and we’ve made an arrest that this case is anywhere near over. This case is just getting started with more interviews, with more investigative tactics with everything that we have at our disposal we will use to bring those who are responsible for this little girl’s death to justice,” Durnil said.
Justin Ammerman’s brother, Adam, said Kyle Parker had been drinking at the home on the night Shaylyn vanished.
State police cautioned that the investigation into the case could take weeks, if not months.
According to court records, Parker has been charged in the past with possession of paraphernalia and possession of a synthetic or lookalike drug. He’s also been picked up for possession of marijuana and illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage, records show. In another case, Parker was charged with criminal trespassing and a protection order was filed by his victim.
The search has ended for 14-month Shaylyn Ammerman, who was reported missing from her home on Wednesday night, ended last night with the recovery of her body.
Kyle Parker, 22 of Spencer has been taken into custody and is currently being held in connection with this case.
An autopsy has been scheduled for tomorrow.
Just after 6 o’clock last evening, investigative efforts by several law enforcement agencies led officers to a remote area located near the White River northeast of Gosport.
At this time, Indiana State Police Crime Scene Investigators are processing the scene where a baby matching the description of Shaylyn Ammerman was discovered.
The case involving Shaylyn Michelle Kay Ammerman is ongoing and many leads still need to be investigated.
Investigations of this nature often take weeks or longer to complete and additional time to be reviewed by the prosecuting authority.
Positive identification and cause of death of the discovered infant will be made by the Owen County Coroner’s Office. I anticipate that information being released over the course of the next few days.
Mr. Roger Riggs age 68 of Salem passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at U of L Hospital.
Mr. Riggs was born December 22, 1947 in Decator Illinois son of Charles and Bonnie Cole Riggs.
He is survived by his wife Lometta Campbell Riggs, 2 Daughters: Janese Walls (Bob) and Janette Amos (James) both of Salem, 10 Grandchildren and 12 Great Grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother Gale Riggs.
He is a retired employee of Kimball’s and a member of Enon Baptist Church, where he was a trustee. Also a member of the Double Y saddle club in Edinburg, he helped with the Corky Smedley scholarship fund and the 4-H horse shows for many years. Funeral services will be Saturday at 11:00 A.M. at Weathers Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 4p.m-8p.m. and Saturday 9 A.M. –time of service.
Just before 9 o’clock this morning the Spencer Police Department was summonsed to 489 West Jefferson Street regarding a missing infant.
Once information was gathered regarding the circumstances of the case, Chief Rich Foutch requested assistance from area law enforcement agencies and a search for the child began.
Several “attempt to locates” were dispatched throughout the day including those for vehicles and persons of interest.
Throughout the day, investigators have interviewed several witnesses including family of the infant. Those interviews are still in progress at the time of this release. Search warrants have also been issued for different homes and vehicles.
No arrests have been made.
The child, Shaylyn Michelle Kay Ammerman is described as a 15 month old white female, 49 inches tall, 20 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a white zip up sleeper decorated with owls and a purple pacifier was attached. Shaylyn may also have a blue and white “Winnie the Pooh” blanket with her.
Police have continued to search areas in Spencer near the Jefferson Street address; to the White River and back to State Road 46. The Indiana Conservation Officers have searched the White River in the that area, using sonar equipment and other technology at their disposal. Officers have also searched other areas in northern Owen County as well.
Tips will remain anonymous.
AGENCIES ASSISTING – Spencer Police Department, Owen County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, Indiana Conservation Officers, Owen Valley Fire Department, Vigo County Search & Rescue, Owen County Rescue, Owen County Emergency Management, Owen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
Mrs. Margaret E. Tatlock age 95 of Salem passed away Tuesday, March 22 at Salem Crossing.
Mrs. Tatlock was born August 31, 1920 in Salem the daughter of Estil and Grace Dalton Callahan. She was a former employee of Traveler’s and retired from Bata Shoe Company. She was a member of Salem United Methodist Church.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband: Glenn A. Tatlock on December 17, 1991, a son: Gary Tatlock, a son-in-law: Lee Tempel, three brothers: Charles, Bill and Bob Callahan, a sister: Frances Porter and her parents.
She is survived by a son: Charles “Sonny” Tatlock (Jackie) of Salem, three daughters: Judy Thompson (Gerald) of Salem, Gerry Tempel of St. Louis, Missouri, and Karen Ingram (Kenny) of Salem, a brother: Donald Callahan (Ann) of Connersville, Indiana, ten grandchildren: Michelle Sowder, Margaret Svec, Marla Sease, James Glenn Thompson, Cindy Jean Laba, Gwen Maloney, Heather Golden, Glenn Martin, Jenny Woodward and Jeremy Ingram, 16 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held Friday at 2:00PM at Crown Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 4-8PM and Friday from noon-2PM at Weathers Funeral Home.
