State of Iowa v. Zyriah Schlitter
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Opinion
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 13-0346 Filed October 29, 2014
STATE OF IOWA, Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
ZYRIAH SCHLITTER, Defendant-Appellant. ________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Linn County, Marsha M.
Beckelman, Judge.
Zyriah Schlitter appeals his convictions, following the death of his
daughter, for child endangerment resulting in death and involuntary
manslaughter by public offense. AFFIRMED.
Mark C. Smith, State Appellate Defender, and Shellie L. Knipfer, Assistant
Appellate Defender, for appellant.
Zyriah Schlitter, Newton, appellant pro se.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Jean C. Pettinger, Assistant Attorney
General, Jerry Vander Sanden, County Attorney, and Nicholas Maybanks and
Lisa Epp, Assistant County Attorneys, for appellee.
Heard by Danilson, C.J., and Vogel and Bower, JJ. 2
BOWER, J.
Following a jury trial on charges of first-degree murder and child
endangerment resulting in death, Zyriah Schlitter was convicted of involuntary
manslaughter by public offense and child endangerment resulting in death. On
appeal, Schlitter claims the district court erred in declining to suppress
statements he made in violation of his Miranda rights. He alternatively claims the
statements were involuntary because his “will was overborne.” Finally, Schlitter
contends his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to (1) move
for a judgment of acquittal on lesser offenses, (2) timely object to prosecutorial
misconduct, and (3) investigate.1 We affirm.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings
We state “the facts in the light most favorable to the verdict.” State v.
Neiderbach, 837 N.W.2d 180, 187 (Iowa 2013). Until the last month of her short
life when her father had temporary custody, K.S. was a happy, healthy baby.
After her birth in September 2008, she lived with her parents, Schlitter and
Nicole, at the home of Jeri and John King, Nicole’s mother and stepfather.
Nicole and Jeri cared for K.S. most of the time, and Schlitter worked. K.S. slept
through the night, ate well, was starting to talk, and loved to dance. Although she
1 Schlitter filed a separate pro se brief claiming (1) trial counsel was ineffective by failing to object to the jury instructions not including (a) a definition of “custody or control” that included the possibility of Amy Parmer having such custody and control, (b) a definition of causation, (c) a definition of death in light of the withdrawal of artificial life support, and (d) an instruction on aiding and abetting; (2) the district court lacked statutory authority to submit involuntary manslaughter by public offense; and (3) the jury rendered inconsistent verdicts and the court incorrectly merged the offenses. After considering these arguments in light of the entire record, we conclude Schlitter’s pro se claims are either without merit or were not preserved for our review. 3
had started to walk when she was only eight or nine months old, she sustained
only minor bumps or bruises on her shins from climbing on furniture.
In the beginning of November 2009, Nicole and Schlitter ended their
relationship. Schlitter eventually moved out to live with his grandparents,
Donnabelle and Herbert Hartz. Thereafter, Schlitter visited K.S. on Wednesdays
and cared for her on alternate weekends, which were spent either at his
grandparents’ house in Cedar Rapids or at the Hiawatha, Iowa apartment of his
new girlfriend, Amy Parmer. Parmer had two children, a six-year-old son and a
two-year old daughter.
In February 2010, Nicole’s mother and stepfather divorced, forcing Nicole
to make different living arrangements. Schlitter agreed to take care of K.S. for
four weeks while Nicole made the arrangements. Schlitter and Nicole signed a
temporary custody agreement.
A. Schlitter Physical Care
K.S. moved in with Schlitter on February 22, 2010. Nicole tried to visit
three times a week but was not always able to do so. On March 1, 2010,
Schlitter took K.S. to a clinic for a well-child check—she was in very good health.
K.S. started attending daycare on March 2 and adjusted well during the
first week—she played with the other children and ate and napped well. Schlitter
dropped her off and picked her up. Andrea McAleer and Keri Sotelo were the
daycare staffers in K.S.’s room. Parmer’s child at the daycare was not in K.S.’s
room. During the next two weeks, K.S. went from being a healthy toddler to a
critically ill child with lethal injuries from physical abuse. 4
March 6-7 Weekend. Schlitter and K.S. spent the weekend of March 6
and 7 at Parmer’s apartment. Parmer took care of K.S. on Sunday evening while
Schlitter attended a weekly financial class at church from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Monday, March 8. McAleer arrived at the preschool, and when K.S.
turned around, she immediately noticed bruising.2 After morning snack, McAleer
was cleaning K.S.’s face with a wipe and discovered makeup on the wipe.3
Sotelo testified K.S.’s facial injuries were more apparent after her face was
cleaned. K.S. had a bruise on her forehead, a bruise and redness around her
eye, marks on the side of her chin, chapped lips, and a cut on her lip. McAleer
checked under K.S.’s clothes for other injuries but found none. She took
photographs of K.S.’s face.
That same day Parmer came to K.S.’s room and asked McAleer how K.S.
was doing, calling her a “little brat.” Parmer told McAleer that she, Parmer, had
to be the disciplinarian.4 When McAleer asked how K.S. got her bruises, Parmer
stated the bruised eye occurred when K.S. had tripped and fallen, hitting a
bookshelf or table. Parmer stated K.S.’s forehead bruise occurred when a Pack
‘n Play fell out of a closet. Although the staffers went to daycare director Ciarra
McMurrin and expressed concern, McMurrin thought Parmer’s explanations
seemed feasible and elected not to contact the Iowa Department of Human
2 Sotelo was there when Schlitter dropped off K.S., and she initially did not notice K.S.’s injuries because she was tending to other children. By the time she recognized K.S. had a bruised face, Schlitter had left. 3 The staffers kept the wipe, and it was eventually turned over to investigators. 4 Up to that point in time, McAleer did not know of any connection between Schlitter and Parmer. 5
Services (DHS).5 K.S. developed a fever during the afternoon and did not attend
daycare the rest of the week.
Tuesday, March 9. Schlitter took K.S. to the Hiawatha pediatric clinic for
the first time. Schlitter told nurse practitioner Keeli Irwin that K.S was not
sleeping as well, had a decreased appetite, and had a fever. Irwin prescribed
medicine for pink eye. Irwin testified she saw “a golf ball-sized lesion [on K.S.’s
forehead] that stuck out and it was bruised around that.” Also, “it was a
significant enough bruise that I asked about it, and [Schlitter] said that she had
recently fallen into, I think a coffee table, but it was a piece of furniture.” Schlitter
did not seem concerned about the bruise, and he did not mention a falling Pack
‘n Play.6 At trial, Schlitter testified Irwin never asked him about the bruise during
this appointment.
March 10-11.
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 13-0346 Filed October 29, 2014
STATE OF IOWA, Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
ZYRIAH SCHLITTER, Defendant-Appellant. ________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Linn County, Marsha M.
Beckelman, Judge.
Zyriah Schlitter appeals his convictions, following the death of his
daughter, for child endangerment resulting in death and involuntary
manslaughter by public offense. AFFIRMED.
Mark C. Smith, State Appellate Defender, and Shellie L. Knipfer, Assistant
Appellate Defender, for appellant.
Zyriah Schlitter, Newton, appellant pro se.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Jean C. Pettinger, Assistant Attorney
General, Jerry Vander Sanden, County Attorney, and Nicholas Maybanks and
Lisa Epp, Assistant County Attorneys, for appellee.
Heard by Danilson, C.J., and Vogel and Bower, JJ. 2
BOWER, J.
Following a jury trial on charges of first-degree murder and child
endangerment resulting in death, Zyriah Schlitter was convicted of involuntary
manslaughter by public offense and child endangerment resulting in death. On
appeal, Schlitter claims the district court erred in declining to suppress
statements he made in violation of his Miranda rights. He alternatively claims the
statements were involuntary because his “will was overborne.” Finally, Schlitter
contends his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to (1) move
for a judgment of acquittal on lesser offenses, (2) timely object to prosecutorial
misconduct, and (3) investigate.1 We affirm.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings
We state “the facts in the light most favorable to the verdict.” State v.
Neiderbach, 837 N.W.2d 180, 187 (Iowa 2013). Until the last month of her short
life when her father had temporary custody, K.S. was a happy, healthy baby.
After her birth in September 2008, she lived with her parents, Schlitter and
Nicole, at the home of Jeri and John King, Nicole’s mother and stepfather.
Nicole and Jeri cared for K.S. most of the time, and Schlitter worked. K.S. slept
through the night, ate well, was starting to talk, and loved to dance. Although she
1 Schlitter filed a separate pro se brief claiming (1) trial counsel was ineffective by failing to object to the jury instructions not including (a) a definition of “custody or control” that included the possibility of Amy Parmer having such custody and control, (b) a definition of causation, (c) a definition of death in light of the withdrawal of artificial life support, and (d) an instruction on aiding and abetting; (2) the district court lacked statutory authority to submit involuntary manslaughter by public offense; and (3) the jury rendered inconsistent verdicts and the court incorrectly merged the offenses. After considering these arguments in light of the entire record, we conclude Schlitter’s pro se claims are either without merit or were not preserved for our review. 3
had started to walk when she was only eight or nine months old, she sustained
only minor bumps or bruises on her shins from climbing on furniture.
In the beginning of November 2009, Nicole and Schlitter ended their
relationship. Schlitter eventually moved out to live with his grandparents,
Donnabelle and Herbert Hartz. Thereafter, Schlitter visited K.S. on Wednesdays
and cared for her on alternate weekends, which were spent either at his
grandparents’ house in Cedar Rapids or at the Hiawatha, Iowa apartment of his
new girlfriend, Amy Parmer. Parmer had two children, a six-year-old son and a
two-year old daughter.
In February 2010, Nicole’s mother and stepfather divorced, forcing Nicole
to make different living arrangements. Schlitter agreed to take care of K.S. for
four weeks while Nicole made the arrangements. Schlitter and Nicole signed a
temporary custody agreement.
A. Schlitter Physical Care
K.S. moved in with Schlitter on February 22, 2010. Nicole tried to visit
three times a week but was not always able to do so. On March 1, 2010,
Schlitter took K.S. to a clinic for a well-child check—she was in very good health.
K.S. started attending daycare on March 2 and adjusted well during the
first week—she played with the other children and ate and napped well. Schlitter
dropped her off and picked her up. Andrea McAleer and Keri Sotelo were the
daycare staffers in K.S.’s room. Parmer’s child at the daycare was not in K.S.’s
room. During the next two weeks, K.S. went from being a healthy toddler to a
critically ill child with lethal injuries from physical abuse. 4
March 6-7 Weekend. Schlitter and K.S. spent the weekend of March 6
and 7 at Parmer’s apartment. Parmer took care of K.S. on Sunday evening while
Schlitter attended a weekly financial class at church from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Monday, March 8. McAleer arrived at the preschool, and when K.S.
turned around, she immediately noticed bruising.2 After morning snack, McAleer
was cleaning K.S.’s face with a wipe and discovered makeup on the wipe.3
Sotelo testified K.S.’s facial injuries were more apparent after her face was
cleaned. K.S. had a bruise on her forehead, a bruise and redness around her
eye, marks on the side of her chin, chapped lips, and a cut on her lip. McAleer
checked under K.S.’s clothes for other injuries but found none. She took
photographs of K.S.’s face.
That same day Parmer came to K.S.’s room and asked McAleer how K.S.
was doing, calling her a “little brat.” Parmer told McAleer that she, Parmer, had
to be the disciplinarian.4 When McAleer asked how K.S. got her bruises, Parmer
stated the bruised eye occurred when K.S. had tripped and fallen, hitting a
bookshelf or table. Parmer stated K.S.’s forehead bruise occurred when a Pack
‘n Play fell out of a closet. Although the staffers went to daycare director Ciarra
McMurrin and expressed concern, McMurrin thought Parmer’s explanations
seemed feasible and elected not to contact the Iowa Department of Human
2 Sotelo was there when Schlitter dropped off K.S., and she initially did not notice K.S.’s injuries because she was tending to other children. By the time she recognized K.S. had a bruised face, Schlitter had left. 3 The staffers kept the wipe, and it was eventually turned over to investigators. 4 Up to that point in time, McAleer did not know of any connection between Schlitter and Parmer. 5
Services (DHS).5 K.S. developed a fever during the afternoon and did not attend
daycare the rest of the week.
Tuesday, March 9. Schlitter took K.S. to the Hiawatha pediatric clinic for
the first time. Schlitter told nurse practitioner Keeli Irwin that K.S was not
sleeping as well, had a decreased appetite, and had a fever. Irwin prescribed
medicine for pink eye. Irwin testified she saw “a golf ball-sized lesion [on K.S.’s
forehead] that stuck out and it was bruised around that.” Also, “it was a
significant enough bruise that I asked about it, and [Schlitter] said that she had
recently fallen into, I think a coffee table, but it was a piece of furniture.” Schlitter
did not seem concerned about the bruise, and he did not mention a falling Pack
‘n Play.6 At trial, Schlitter testified Irwin never asked him about the bruise during
this appointment.
March 10-11. The next two days, March 10 and March 11, Schlitter again
called for medical advice about K.S.’s continuing fever, congestion, and
decreased appetite. On Thursday, March 11, he was advised to take K.S. to the
emergency room if she started to dehydrate or had trouble breathing. Otherwise,
he was to bring K.S. to the clinic to see Irwin on March 12 as previously
scheduled.
5 At trial, McAleer likewise testified Parmer’s March 8 explanation “seemed like something that would happen.” McMurrin testified that if she had known about the wipe containing what looked like makeup, she would have made a different decision. 6 On cross-examination, Irwin explained why she, as a mandatory reporter, had not contacted the DHS: [A]lmost every single fifteen-to-eighteen-month-old that we see in our office has bruises. They fall into things. That’s very common. They are not sturdy creatures. And so I did ask about the bruise because it was a significant bruise. He gave a good story. I did not see any other red flags as far as bruising on the rest of her body. 6
Friday, March 12. At the clinic, Schlitter told Irwin that K.S. had vomited
on him once the previous day and was fussy, not sleeping well, not eating well,7
and tugging at her ears. Irwin found K.S.’s eyes were better but both of her ears
were infected. Irwin prescribed an antibiotic and instructed Schlitter to return if
the symptoms did not improve in two to three days or if K.S. has worsening fever
or ear pain. Irwin observed K.S. still had a bruise on her forehead and it had not
“changed much, maybe a little lighter in color.”
March 13-14 Weekend. Schlitter and K.S. spent the weekend of March
13 and 14 with Parmer. K.S.’s fever broke on March 13. Parmer again watched
K.S. while Schlitter attended his Sunday financial class.
Monday, March 15. K.S. returned to daycare and attended daycare
through Friday, March 19, 2010. When Schlitter and K.S. arrived at the daycare,
Sotelo saw more bruising on K.S.’s face, her eyes, and her chin. Sotelo asked
Schlitter about the new bruises. In a monotone he replied, K.S. “likes to beat
herself up” and “turned around and left.” K.S.’s additional injuries included
another bruise on top of the previous bruise on her forehead, black eyes, and
bruising on both cheeks. McAleer described her appearance—“just
heartbreaking.” McAleer took photographs of K.S. and checked under her
clothes. There was no additional bruising. McAleer and Sotelo notified a director
7 Because Schlitter had told Irwin that K.S. was not eating well, Irwin talked to him about K.S. needing “to have a wet diaper or go to the bathroom at least once every eight hours. When [she cried,] there needs to be tears.” Schlitter’s step-grandfather testified to babysitting K.S. the week she was sick. The “whole day,” K.S. “had no soiled diapers or no wet diapers.” When Schlitter came home, the step-grandfather told him, “This little girl is going to get dehydrated. You are going to have to go intravenous.” Schlitter then bought an eye dropper and tried to use it to give her water. K.S. resisted. 7
about K.S.'s injuries, and the DHS was called. During the day, staffers observed
K.S. was not eating and seemed very lethargic. K.S. took long naps. Staffers
had to wake her up at the end of naptime. K.S. would not play or interact with
any of the other children, and she did not talk.
Tuesday, March 16. In the morning, DHS child abuse investigator Sarah
Bliss observed K.S. at the daycare. Bliss observed K.S. “did have a bruise on
her forehead and on her cheek.” Bliss took photographs of K.S. Later, Bliss met
with Schlitter. He stated K.S. was grouchier lately and described the recent eye
and ear infections. Schlitter also told Bliss that K.S. “listened better for his
girlfriend, Amy Parmer” and was better behaved at Parmer’s apartment. Schlitter
told Bliss K.S. had hit her head on a desk at Parmer’s apartment the weekend of
March 13-14. On the weekend of March 6-7, a Pack ’n Play had fallen out of a
closet on her. He told Bliss he had not seen the Pack ’n Play fall on her and he
had gone in afterwards. When Bliss asked Schlitter about his statement to
daycare staffers that K.S. liked to beat herself up, Schlitter denied making the
statement. During a later interview with investigators, Schlitter insisted he did not
notice the bruises on K.S.’s cheeks until Bliss pointed them out to him.8
Wednesday, March 17. Schlitter brought K.S. over to Nicole’s parent’s
house for a visit. Nicole described the evening: “She was not happy. She
constantly cried and she was ripping her hair out on the left side of her head and
she wouldn’t want to do anything with me.” Nicole had never seen her act that
8 After the interview, Bliss recommended “an early access referral” to check K.S.’s development as well as therapy. 8
way before. She told Schlitter to take her home and put her to bed because she
was sick. Nicole did not recall seeing any injuries on K.S. that day.
Thursday March 18. From Thursday March 18 to Sunday March 21,
2010, Schlitter’s grandparents were out of town and not available to help Schlitter
with K.S.’s care. On March 18, Nicole visited K.S. at Schlitter’s grandparents’
home and saw bruises on K.S.’s face that she had not seen before. Schlitter
minimized the bruises, telling Nicole “she just probably bumped into something.”
Also on March 18, Schlitter called the pediatric clinic to report K.S. had
been very sleepy during the day, was going to bed earlier and sleeping in later,
and still had a runny nose and cough. The nurse advised Schlitter to have K.S.
finish the antibiotic and to call back if the symptoms continued or if he had other
questions. At trial and during an interview, Schlitter admitted he did not tell the
nurse all of K.S.’s symptoms—she was pulling out her hair, waking up with
nightmares at daycare, and not eating well. Schlitter did not call the clinic in the
following days.
Friday, March 19. Schlitter failed to take K.S. to her follow-up
appointment for more shots. After daycare, Nicole took K.S. to visit Nicole’s aunt
but was forced to end the visit early because K.S. was screaming and pulling her
hair out. Nicole saw “just the same bruises” on K.S.’s forehead and cheeks.
Saturday, March 20. K.S. and Schlitter spent the day and early evening
in Cedar Rapids. That morning, Parmer sent a text message to Eric Olmstead,
another man with whom she was having an intimate relationship: “And [I] love
kids but [Schlitter’s] daughter is already ending us.” Parmer continued, K.S. “is 9
the most obnoxious kid in the world that gets babied when told no and has no
discipline.” Parmer also texted she would try to find a babysitter so she could go
out with Olmstead. Olmstead testified he and Parmer would be sexually intimate
once or twice a month as the circumstances allowed.
Despite K.S. sustaining injuries at Parmer’s apartment on both of the
previous weekends, Schlitter again took K.S. to Parmer’s around 8:00 p.m. on
Saturday evening. While he was putting her to bed after they arrived, she
vomited on him.
Sunday, March 21. Schlitter became frustrated with K.S. and had to
leave the room at lunch time. Schlitter then put K.S. down for her nap, and she
woke up around 3:30 p.m. At 5:15 p.m., he left for his class and Parmer cared
for K.S.
Two and one-half hours later, around 7:44 p.m., the Hiawatha Fire
Department received a call for assistance from Parmer. When Fire Chief Michael
Nesslage arrived, he found Parmer outside, crying and upset. Nesslage
observed K.S. lying face up in a Pack ‘n Play with her left arm posturing and her
right side flaccid—“basically unresponsive” and not breathing adequately.
Nesslage asked Parmer if K.S. had fallen and Parmer denied any fall. Nesslage
carried K.S. to the ambulance where she was immediately ventilated for the ride
to St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids.
At about 7:45 p.m., Parmer called Schlitter’s cell phone. Hiawatha
responder Wayne Compton talked with Schlitter. Compton testified he told
Schlitter that K.S. was found unresponsive and they are working on her “right 10
now in the ambulance waiting to go to the hospital.” Compton testified Schlitter
did not ask him what “had happened” to K.S., “just what was going on.” Schlitter
drove to St. Luke’s.
B. St. Luke’s Hospital
Dr. Julie Beard treated K.S in the emergency room and described K.S.’s
condition upon arrival: “She was dying, very sick, and critically ill.” K.S. “was
bleeding in her eyes” from a “serious injury.” Dr. Beard arranged for K.S. to be
transferred by air ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
(UIHC), and K.S. was at St. Luke’s for less than an hour. When Nicole
approached Parmer and asked what she had done, Schlitter stepped in and said,
“She didn’t do anything.” Dr. Beard asked Schlitter and Parmer about the
bruising, and they told her K.S. “gets in to everything” and is “klutzy.” Schlitter
stated he had been “meaning to follow up with her doctor regarding her easy
bruising,” but had not.
Nurse Nichole Morgan treated K.S. and observed Schlitter walk towards
K.S.’s bed and tell K.S., “I’m sorry.” Morgan documented Schlitter had “no
emotional reaction to seeing” K.S. K.S.’s chart was marked suspected child
abuse, and the DHS was called.
C. UIHC
March 21, 2010. Dr. Charles Jennissen, a pediatric emergency medicine
physician, described K.S.’s condition upon arrival—one pupil was larger than the
other and neither pupil was responsive to light, showing K.S.’s “brain might be
herniating.” Dr. Jennissen observed K.S. had multiple bruises and “when you 11
see different bruises, different colors, you . . . know that they came from different
times.” Dr. Jennissen “particularly noticed” a bruise “that was striking to me was
the one that was kind of around her jaw line, kind of underneath her jaw which
didn’t really appear typical for accidental injury.” He also noted K.S. had “some
bruises on her upper arms that looked suspicious possibly for grab marks, and
those are fairly typical . . . abusive related bruises.”
Dr. Jennissen met with the family and told them K.S.’s injuries “were
sustained in a non-accidental way” and her condition was very grave. From the
paramedics’ report, Dr. Jennissen knew K.S. had been in Parmer’s care, and he
“wanted to know [what] time [Schlitter] was around and what [K.S.] was like at
that time” to find out when the non-accidental trauma occurred. When Schlitter
told Dr. Jennissen he had last seen K.S. at 5:15 p.m., Dr. Jennissen “wanted to
see if she was normal at that point” and asked Schlitter what K.S. “looked like
when he left and how she was acting.” Dr. Jennissen testified that despite asking
Schlitter that specific question three times, Schlitter “never really did say what
she was acting like and what she looked like right before he left at 5:15,” which
Dr. Jennissen thought was “odd.” Dr. Jennissen explained to the jury that a
typical response would be, “Hey, I don’t know what happened. I mean, I left.
She was acting fine.” Another typical response would be, “She was not acting
herself. She was laying on the couch all day. I was really very concerned.”
Schlitter avoided the doctor’s multiple questions and instead repeatedly talked
about the past week. Schlitter also failed to mention he got frustrated with her at
lunch time before he put her down for a nap at noon. 12
Dr. Jennissen testified the timing of K.S.’s injury “is always a difficult thing
to know” but it “seemed like” it happened “that day. Exactly when . . . [is] hard to
know.” Finally, Dr. Jennissen testified:
Q. . . . [I]f you were told that [K.S.], towards the end of this week was not eating, not playing, sleeping in late, going to bed early, pulling her hair, reacting psychologically to people around her [and were also told] there was only one call made to medical authorities on [March 18], would that surprise you? A. Well, if she’s having symptoms like that . . . most parents would be kind of concerned and would seek attention more often.
Dr. Susannah Q. Longmuir is a pediatric ophthalmologist at UIHC, and
she examined K.S.’s eyes. Her examination revealed K.S. had folds in the
retina—“highly suggestive to some sort of crush injury or shaking violently.”
Dr. Alexandra Volk, a pediatric intensive care physician, treated K.S. She
testified to her observations after K.S. had undergone a CT scan of her head:
I was very worried about how much [brain] edema she had . . . swelling of brain cells, especially on the left side and that she was in herniation meaning her brain had swelled to the point that it was cutting off blood flow. So she was extremely near death, and I also knew that there was blood outside the brain in a place where it’s not supposed to be—a subdural hematoma. There were different densities of blood . . . and that indicates different ages of blood in the brain. So that’s very worrisome to me for multiple repeated episodes of abusive trauma.
Dr. Volk “specifically asked” Schlitter if there had been any trauma.
Schlitter responded that K.S. was “klutzy” but there was no specific history of
trauma. Dr. Volk observed Nicole began making accusations against Parmer
while Schlitter defended her by saying, “You weren’t there. You don’t know what
happened.” Dr. Volk brought in the neurosurgeons. Later, Dr. Volk learned K.S.
had been pulling out her hair prior to March 21. She then opined: “[T]he fact K.S. 13
was pulling her hair out was a sign of how much stress she was under for days.
That’s what you do when you [are] being tortured.”
The DHS child abuse investigator Roberta Hinman arrived at the UIHC.
When Hinman introduced herself, Schlitter was teary-eyed and she waited “a
good hour or more” for Schlitter to calm down before she could talk to him.
Hinman and City of Hiawatha Investigator Rodney Fiser met with Schlitter and
Nicole in a hospital waiting room. Hinman observed Schlitter “laid his head down
sobbing” a few times during the conversation. Schlitter stated Amy was a good
parent.
Fiser testified Schlitter stated K.S.’s fever broke Saturday, March 13 after
she was prescribed Amoxicillin, and she was “good to go.” When Fiser asked
how K.S. was today (Sunday March 21), at first Schlitter said she was good.
Later, Schlitter said K.S. had been moody since she had been sick, she had a
personality change, and she had been clingy. Schlitter also stated after her nap
on Saturday, March 20, she started to act like her same old self. Schlitter
described the Sunday activities. K.S. sat on the couch and watched television
with him, and they tried to get her to play. K.S. had to be right next to him the
whole day and she cried a lot. He put K.S. down for her nap at noon.
Schlitter himself brought up the bruise on K.S.’s forehead and initially said
he did not remember how she got it. Later, he pointed out that K.S.’s head was
the same height as the kitchen and computer tables. Fiser testified when he
asked Schlitter about the older bruise that was still healing, Schlitter talked about
the Pack ’n Play incident. 14
Monday, March 22. In the early morning hours, Dr. Gregory W. Albert
operated on K.S. and removed her left skull cap in an effort at decompression.
When K.S. remained very ill, the surgeons then drilled a small hole in her skull
and placed an intracranial pressure monitor to display her brain pressure.
Fiser and Hinman met with Dr. Volk, Dr. Albert, Schlitter, Nicole, and their
immediate families. Fiser and Hinman learned K.S.’s bruising was extensive and
also learned K.S. had serious brain injuries. Afterwards, Fiser requested
assistance from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and met
with DCI Agent Darrell Simmons.
When K.S. continued to have “severely elevated pressures,” she was
returned to the operating room for the placement of a drain to remove fluid from
her brain. As to the timing of K.S.’s injuries, Dr. Albert testified “it’s hard to know
exactly . . . it was probably fairly recent, hours, perhaps a day when the injury
occurred.” He agreed K.S. could have suffered both a progressing injury and a
very recent event—“It could have been multiple injuries and then one final fatal
injury.” Dr. Albert explained “there is a possible progression of symptoms” with
shaken baby/abusive head injury trauma—“headaches, irritability, vomiting,
lethargy, and then coma and posturing tend to come later.”
Tuesday, March 23. Simmons and Fiser met with Schlitter and Nicole at
the hospital. Nicole reported K.S. had not been herself during her last visit. For
the first time, Fiser learned K.S. was pulling out her hair. Schlitter also talked
about K.S. having a fever and being sleepy—sleeping eleven to twelve hours a
night. He explained she would take a nap at daycare and then just lay around 15
with a daycare worker for the rest of the day. Schlitter reported K.S. woke up
tired on Sunday March 21. Also for the first time, Schlitter described lunch on
March 21—they gave K.S. pizza, which she would put in her mouth and would
not chew. K.S. started to choke and they had to take it out of her mouth, which
made her mad. Around that time Schlitter put her down for a nap, but after her
nap she woke up tired. Also for the first time, Schlitter told the officers K.S. had
been waking up from naps at daycare, crying like she was having a nightmare.
At the end of the interview, Schlitter stated K.S. had thrown up on him just before
bedtime on Saturday night. Schlitter did not tell the authorities he was so
frustrated with K.S. around noon that he had to leave her with Parmer while he
left to calm down.
When the neurosurgical interventions did not control the swelling, Dr. Volk
placed K.S. in a medically-induced coma—“our last ditch effort for her survival.”
Sunday, March 28. During the week K.S. was at UIHC, Schlitter was
there continuously and never left. Parmer did not come to the hospital. Nicole
and Schlitter made the difficult decision to remove K.S. from the ventilator and
held her on March 28 as she died.
D. Investigation
March 30 Interview—Nicole. Nicole told the investigators Schlitter gets
frustrated easily but she did not think he would ever hurt K.S. Nicole did not like
to leave Schlitter completely alone with K.S. because she was worried about his
short fuse. Nicole stated she believed Amy Parmer was hurting K.S. 16
March 30 Interview—Schlitter. Schlitter stated he had seen Parmer
spank her son but Parmer loves kids and he “fully trusted” K.S. with Parmer. If
Schlitter was frustrated with K.S. and he was alone, he would put her in her
playpen to give himself a little break. If someone else was there, that person
would watch her while he walked away to cool off. That happened rarely, but it
happened “a few more times when she was sick and very fussy, oh, the last
couple of weeks.”
When asked to talk about K.S.’s bruises, Schlitter stated he was not sure
how she got the one on the right side of her head, but she was just the right
height to hit her head on tables. He thought she got the bruise around her eye
from the Pack ‘n Play falling out of the closet on her. Schlitter denied he put
makeup on the March 8 bruise and stated, “Oh, I don’t even think Amy even
owns any makeup.”
Q. Well, I mean, why . . . do you think somebody would put makeup over a black eye? A. To cover it up I suppose. .... Q. . . . [W]hen they wiped her face . . . makeup came off and the . . . bruise was darker, is what [daycare] related to us. When we talked to Amy, she said she didn’t put makeup on it. A. Yeah. I’m trying to think . . . . I think [Amy] might [have] put some like vitamin K on it, I, or whatever it is to help heal the skin.
Schlitter stated: “I didn’t even notice [the Monday, March 15 bruises] until
the social worker told me on Tuesday that she had [them]. And then I picked her
up and I finally, I looked at her face, and she had real light bruising on her
cheeks,” one on each side. Schlitter guessed those bruises came from the
computer table. Schlitter also stated he did not see bruises or marks when he
returned from financial class or from running an errand: “I didn’t pay that close 17
attention to a lot of her, especially her smaller bruises, because she was very
active.”
Simmons pointed out K.S. had marks on the back of her shoulders. In the
ensuing discussion Schlitter admitted, for the first time (1) he could have picked
K.S. up roughly at times when he was frustrated, and (2) he was frustrated at
lunch on March 21. Specifically,
Q. . . . [Somebody’s] not just picking [her] up, they’re squeezing . . . with pretty good amount of force to leave bruises . . . . Did you ever pick her up like that and pick her up really fast and maybe some time when you got frustrated with her? I’m not saying you intentionally hurt your daughter, I’m not saying that by any means . . . . Did you ever have something like that where you [are] just like [K.S.], please, just stop crying . . . did you ever get frustrated with her like that? A. I’m sure I have. .... Q. Okay. What about the bruises under here? And the marks on here? [Simmons gestures to the body] A. Maybe that. I mean I picked her up a lot. I didn’t do it violently. .... Q. . . . I think you picked her up a little bit too hard. I think you picked her up too hard, argh, stop crying, why do you cry all the time . . . . A. . . . I didn’t get that frustrated with her. I didn’t shake her. Q. I don’t know how else to explain it . . . . A. I’m sure I, may have picked her up, you know, like you said, but I never shake her, I never shake her. I never hit her head. .... Q. Well, let me ask you this, is it possible you did something and didn’t realize you did it as hard as you did? A. Other than picking her up? No.
In another portion of the interview, Simmons asked:
Q. You didn’t hurt your daughter? A. No. Not that I know of. Q. What do you mean not that you know of? A. Not purposely trying to hurt my daughter. .... 18
Q. Did you get frustrated with her [anytime] on Sunday? A. Uh, that she wasn’t eating lunch and I picked her up to set her down on her mat a few times [because] she kept getting up. Q. Okay. A. And it wasn’t extremely hard or forceful. I picked her up, sat her down, and she did that enough times I had to take a break. Amy watched her for a few minutes. Q. Okay. A. That was the last time I got frustrated.
Schlitter thought K.S.’s tiredness the last few days was just getting over
her sickness. But as soon as K.S. went to the hospital, he researched the
possibilities of head trauma and learned K.S. had the symptoms of head trauma.
Schlitter denied squeezing K.S.’s face to give her medicine. At the close of the
interview, Schlitter said he thought Parmer was “just too nice of a person to hurt
any kid.” The officers videotaped this interview, and the State played the video
for the jury at trial.
DHS Report. Around April 12, 2010, Schlitter received a copy of the DHS
report on K.S.’s death. The report stated Parmer had referred to K.S. as “a little
brat” at the daycare. At trial, Schlitter was evasive about the report’s contents:
Q. So isn’t it true that you did know that Amy Parmer had referred to [K.S.] as a brat at the daycare before July of 2010? A. I don’t recall reading that. .... Q. So you don’t recall reading this report here in full? A. I don’t know how thoroughly I read through it, no.
February 2011. Nine months later, Nicole talked to the investigators
about a past conversation with Schlitter—“we were talking about how scared he
was that he was going to be arrested for hiding what Amy did or something like
that.” 19
April 2011. Schlitter, Nicole, and Nicole’s new boyfriend, Cameron Heinz,
were shopping at Wal-Mart. Nicole saw Parmer and yelled, “That’s the woman
who killed” my daughter. According to Nicole, the following exchange occurred:
Schlitter: Tell me what really happened that night. Parmer: Nothing. There was a previous injury. Schlitter: I got a thirty-two page packet and you said some bullshit. Parmer: Yeah, you said some bullshit too. Schlitter: I know the blunt [sic] of it happened that night. Parmer: No, it didn’t.
During closing argument, the prosecutor emphasized this conversation, stating
Schlitter and Parmer “essentially admit to what they knew they had done.”
June 9, 2011. Schlitter contacted investigator Simmons and requested a
meeting. Simmons agreed to meet at the Hiawatha Police Department. At the
meeting, Schlitter stated his purpose was to try to help with the investigation.
Schlitter stated he understood someone making an educated guess would tend
to think he was responsible—all the “arrows” are “pointing to me.” Eventually,
Schlitter admitted he first noticed K.S.’s black eye in the morning of March 8, he
and Parmer had a conversation, Parmer told him a Pack ‘n Play fell out, and he
vaguely remembered Parmer putting “stuff” on the eye. At first, Schlitter denied
holding open K.S.’s mouth to put in the medicine. Later, he stated it was a
possibility, but he did not remember for sure. The officers videotaped this
interview, and the State played the video for the jury at trial.
E. Criminal Proceedings
In July 2011 the State filed a two-count trial information charging Parmer
and Schlitter with first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. 20
In May 2012 the court granted Schlitter’s motion to sever his trial from Parmer’s.
After conducting a hearing on Schlitter’s motion to suppress evidence, the court
denied the motion. A jury trial was held from December 3-21, 2012.
Nicole’s Trial Testimony. Nicole became acquainted with Parmer when
Parmer dated Nicole’s cousin. Parmer, Nicole, and the three children would
spend time together. After watching Parmer interact with her two children, Nicole
had concerns about how Parmer treated them. Initially, Nicole believed Parmer
caused K.S.’s injuries. But Nicole knew Schlitter, when he got frustrated with
K.S., “would grab her fast or sit her down roughly.” She explained Schlitter “likes
to be by himself to calm down” so he “would leave the situation most of the time.”
As K.S. got older and became more mobile, Nicole observed Schlitter’s
frustration increasing. Nicole described an event as their relationship was
ending:
[K.S.] was crying in her bed at night, and he had to get up for work early so he got frustrated, and that [is] when I said, “She’s just crying to try to tell us what’s wrong,” and he wadded up blankets, threw them in the crib towards her, and said F you to her” [and walked out of the room]. I told him I was tired of his anger.
Nicole also described being upset with Schlitter after she watched him get
frustrated with K.S. in March. K.S. was starting to get sick, and he had put her in
a time-out. Nicole testified Schlitter “roughly” forced K.S. to sit down—“He would
grab her and sit her down, grab her and sit her down. Sit her down, sit her
down.” Nicole then told Heinz that they needed to get K.S. back.
Nicole had not seen K.S. without a shirt or diaper since mid-February.
Nicole testified the bruising she saw on K.S. at the hospital was “absolutely not” 21
any bruising she had “witnessed previous to that day.” While at the hospital,
Nicole observed fifty new marks on K.S. “all over her body.” Nicole testified she
had a different perspective on the perpetrator of the abuse after she saw “the nail
marks where you would pick up a child” in Exhibit 26. Nicole could tell someone
with fingernails picked K.S. up roughly, and she believed Schlitter was
responsible for the marks because he had picked her up too roughly again and
Parmer “does not have any fingernails.”
Nicole testified seeing a March 8 daycare photograph also changed her
opinion as to Schlitter’s responsibility—“Well, one, you can see knuckle marks
under her eyes, and two, that was four days before he missed my visit. He was
two hours late for my visit.” Finally, Nicole described Schlitter’s attempt to
manipulate her testimony at trial: “[H]e called two days ago, he asked me to talk
him up, back him up, when I testify.”
DCI Trial Testimony. Agent Simmons described the pictures the DCI
took showing numerous items of makeup at Parmer’s Hiawatha apartment and at
her new apartment. At the new apartment, the DCI found night cream with
vitamin K in it. Also, DNA testing showed K.S.’s DNA on the tissue with makeup.
Testimony of Parmer’s Coworkers. Heather Myers worked with Parmer
at a restaurant. Myers testified to a time when she was giving Parmer a ride
home from work. Parmer suddenly became emotional and said, “I might have
killed a kid.” Timothy Sprous testified he worked with Parmer at the restaurant
and lived with Parmer from February to May 2011. Over a year after K.S.’s
death, Parmer went out drinking with Sprous and Myers and became emotional. 22
She stated to Sprous, “You don’t want to get involved with me.” When Sprous
asked what she was talking about, Parmer replied, “I took a baby’s life” and “I
took an eighteen-month-old’s life.” Parmer identified the baby as K.S. and told
Sprous, “She had a head injury.”
Medical Testimony. Dr. Gary L. Baumbach, a pathologist at UIHC,
testified tissue from K.S. was preserved on March 22, 2010 at 12:13 a.m. In it he
found macrophages, which occur as a response to an injury. But, macrophages
don’t form instantly and need about a twenty-four hour period to form. Once the
macrophages are formed, however, they stay in the tissue for quite a while. Dr.
Baumbach testified to the timing of the injuries. First, he opined K.S. had “a
bleeding event” occurring from twenty-four to seventy-two hours before the tissue
sample (injury in a window between midnight March 18 and midnight March 20
from midnight March 21 sample). Second, because Dr. Baumbach saw changes
inside neurons that are not seen until approximately twelve hours after injury, an
injury occurred “sometime around noon on March 21.”9
Dr. Marcus Nashelsky, a pathology professor at UIHC and a medical
examiner, opined:
Usually there is some form of evidence in the form of a bruise or a number of bruises that we can say represent head impacts. We haven’t used the word shaken in our discussion at all because in a case like this one, there are bruising injuries on the face. Therefore, there are impact injuries of the face . . . . [For example,] another person could have punched [K.S.].
9 Dr. Patricia Kirby, a pathologist at UIHC, testified to an injury “event occurring on” March 21, 2010. 23
K.S.’s blood and membranes showed an injury that was “a few weeks old
or so”—and “there were at least two separate events.” Similar to Dr. Baumbach,
his examination showed there had been some bleeding “perhaps forty-eight to
seventy-two hours” before the sample (injury in a window between midnight
March 18 to midnight March 19). He testified the more recent injuries could have
happened “minutes to hours” before the 911 call, during a period of six hours as
opined by Dr. Oral or possibly during a period extending out to noon to 1:00 p.m.
on March 21—assuming she “was displaying some sort of functional or
behavioral abnormality.”10
Dr. Resmiye Oral, a UIHC pediatric child abuse expert, completed a child
abuse assessment on K.S. Dr. Oral compared the bruises and injuries K.S. had
in the hospital on March 22 with the bruises and injuries shown in the March 8,
March 15, and March 16 photographs. She opined the March 22 injuries “were
all different.” She also explained it is not unusual for a child to cling to the person
abusing them. Dr. Oral met with Schlitter and Nicole together. She explained
her prior experiences in such interviews:
Q. When you’re interviewing these parents or caretakers of children that have been abused to the point that [K.S.] was, do you
10 Dr. Volk testified similarly: “That’s a difficult question because I don’t know exactly how [K.S.] was on the day of her death. But I think the event happened minutes to hours before she presented to 911. She would not have been normal after that event.” Dr. Sameer S. Kamath, a pediatric intensive care physician at the UIHC, opined K.S.’s injury occurred sometime within twenty-four hours, and “more likely sooner than later.” Dr. Michael D’Alessandro explained the CT scan to the jury. He opined the onset of the massive swelling of K.S.’s brain was caused by an acute event fitting within the “hours-to-days” spectrum. Within that spectrum, he would lean towards the twenty-four- hour spectrum as opposed to the two-to-three-days spectrum. 24
expect or hope they will be as forthright as possible about history so you can provide the best medical care possible? A. I don’t. Q. Do you expect or hope that they will be forthright with you about their answers? A. Well, my experience is that the perpetrating parties are usually as vague as possible.
K.S.’s facial bruises and marks caused Dr. Oral concern about
“fingerprints of a hand grasping the child’s face,” and “the facial injuries were very
consistent with grabbing the child’s face violently.” K.S.’s frenum, or the piece of
skin connecting the gum to the upper lip, was torn and pulled out—“And . . . this
is one of the worse frenum tears I have seen for some time.” Dr. Oral explained,
“In cases of abuse and neglect, we see this in the context of something being
forced into the mouth, and I usually never see this in isolation. It [is] always part
of other abusive injuries.”
Dr. Oral sees the kind of retinal hemorrhages K.S. had “in for instance,
falling from a second story or third story onto a rigid surface or being thrown out
of a motor vehicle in a car crash or an abusive head trauma.” Dr. Oral stated:
“[T]he facial injuries were very consistent with grabbing the child’s face violently,
and especially the left arm—upper arm injuries were consistent with grab marks.”
She also observed “two deep scrapes, although connected with a red injury line,
and this is very concerning for a nail mark . . . . The scrape mark was continuing
into the child’s ear as well.”
Dr. Oral opined the cause of K.S.’s death was non-accidental trauma.
K.S. had “bruises from at least two separate time frames” and “was injured at
least on two separate occasions leading to the injuries within her head.” K.S.’s
“older injuries would be at least older than seventy-two hours before admission to 25
the hospital [or 8:00 p.m. March 18 at the earliest], up to two weeks maximum.”
Dr. Oral believed “the person injuring the child must have been aware that the
child’s symptoms had something to do with what had happened to the child’s
head, and not seeking proper medical care for that condition was medical neglect
which might have contributed to the final outcome.” Dr. Oral, retrospectively
analyzing, opined K.S. was showing clinical signs of a brain injury leading up to
her final days.11
Referencing the March 15 photograph, Dr. Oral opined she would expect
a reasonable caretaker to do more than call the doctor and ask about a child
sleeping too much if “throughout the course of the week,” the child “begins to
become sleepy, stops eating normally, begins pulling out her hair,” vomits, and
“even may have nightmares.” But if the caretaker knew that something had been
inflicted on the child, “they wouldn’t seek medical care for fear of the medical
providers understanding this was an inflicted injury.”
As to the timing of the newer, acute injuries, Dr. Oral opined those took
place immediately to six hours before the injury—and based on literature, “more
likely was minutes before.” When relating an earlier injury to the recent injury,
Dr. Oral opined, due to the initial injury, the final injury did not have to be as
severe to cause damage, but the final injury was still a very significant event. Dr.
Oral concluded both of these injuries, “in a constellation,” were contributing
factors to K.S.’s death. For the newer injury, K.S. “experienced rotational
11 Dr. Oral stated the clinical signs included the fact that although her ear infection had been treated and her fever had resolved, “she was still not herself. Later on through record review, I learned she was reported to be clumsy. She wasn’t playful. She wasn’t eating as well.” 26
acceleration-deceleration forces as in shaking most likely with an impact from a
soft surface.”12 The actions creating the older injuries “would be similar” but not
necessarily with impact “because her neurologic status was much milder with the
older injuries.”
At the close of the State’s case, defense counsel moved for a judgment of
acquittal on the murder count. The court denied the motion, and defense
counsel presented evidence.
Zyriah Schlitter Trial Testimony. The defense theory was that Amy
Parmer abused and killed K.S and deceived Schlitter. Schlitter denied ever
hitting K.S. Schlitter stated K.S. was already sleeping when he returned from his
Sunday financial classes. Schlitter testified K.S. was sleeping when he returned
on March 7 and he first learned about the March 8 makeup during his March 30
interview. Conflicting with his statements at the March 30 interview, Schlitter
testified Parmer wore makeup. Schlitter’s testimony also conflicted with the
testimony of nurse practitioner Irwin. Schlitter told the jury Irwin did not talk to
him about a bruise during the March 8 appointment. Schlitter testified to his
March 16 conversation with Bliss:
Q. What did you talk about in general while speaking with DHS on that day? A. She asked me if I knew about the [March 15] bruises on her cheeks. I told her I didn’t. I didn’t see them until I actually picked her up that day after [Bliss] mentioned them. [Bliss] asked me about a bruise on her head. I gave her the best explanation I could.
12 Dr. D’Alessandro stated the injury could be caused by shaking the child, or by slamming the child against a hard or even a soft object like a mattress, or by a combination of shaking and slamming. 27
After our de novo review of the March 15 and March 16 photographs, we
conclude a reasonable jury could find Schlitter’s statements not credible.
Schlitter admitted not telling the nurse everything in his March 18 phone call—he
did not state K.S. was pulling out her hair, she was waking up with nightmares at
daycare, and she was not eating as much—“she had more symptoms.”
On March 20 at 4:00 p.m., Schlitter took a video of K.S. on his phone
because she was “being silly and playing.” Schlitter spent the night of March 20
at Parmer’s. She did not wake up fast and was clingy on March 21. Schlitter
admitted becoming frustrated with K.S., leaving the room to take a break, and
leaving K.S. with Parmer.
Schlitter testified he said “I’m sorry” to K.S. after he knew she had head
trauma and after he knew it was not accidental. He denied making this
statement as an apology for causing the head trauma. After K.S. died on March
28, he returned to his grandparents’ house. He still loved Parmer, and she had
never called K.S. a brat in his presence. Later, he learned Parmer was sexually
intimate with Eric Olmsted while he was at the hospital with K.S.
Trial Conclusion. At the close of the evidence, defense counsel moved
for judgment of acquittal on the first-degree murder charge and on the child
endangerment alternative of “circumstances showing an extreme indifference to
human life.” The court overruled the motions. During closing argument, the
prosecutor claimed Schlitter and Parmer “share responsibility for taking her life”
and the “multiple periods of abuse.” The prosecutor claimed the medical
evidence showed a culture of abuse with injuries on March 21 in a window of six 28
hours and additional injuries in a window of twelve to twenty-four hours and also
injuries within forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Further, the older bruising and
daycare pictures showed injuries in the weeks prior to K.S.’s hospitalization.
After closing arguments, defense counsel objected to the last two minutes
of the prosecutor’s rebuttal argument, claiming it was improper argument. The
prosecutor stated his statements were in response to defense counsel’s closing
that spoke of “the solemn oath involved with using reasonable doubt and some of
the same type of sentiments.” After reviewing the “real time” transcript, the court
overruled the motion, stating the rebuttal argument “fairly talked about the
defendant was afforded his right to a fair trial and . . . I think could also be in
response to the solemn oath” statement used by defense counsel.
The jury returned a guilty verdict on a lesser offense of the murder
charge—involuntary manslaughter by commission of a public offense—and
returned a guilty verdict on the charge of child endangerment causing death.
The court merged the sentences and ordered Schlitter serve an indeterminate
term of fifty years for child endangerment causing death. Schlitter now appeals.
II. Standards of Review
We review Schlitter’s constitutional challenge to the district court’s denial
of his motion to suppress de novo. See State v. Palmer, 791 N.W.2d 840, 844
(Iowa 2010). We examine the entire record—both the evidence introduced at the
suppression hearing and the evidence at trial—and make an independent
examination of the “totality of the circumstances.” Id. We give deference to the
district court’s fact findings, with particular deference given to the district court’s 29
assessment of the credibility of the witnesses. Id. However we are not bound by
the district court’s findings. Id.
We likewise review Schlitter’s claims his counsel rendered ineffective
assistance de novo. See State v. Finney, 834 N.W.2d 46, 49 (Iowa 2013).
Generally we preserve claims of ineffective assistance of counsel raised on direct
appeal for postconviction proceedings to allow full development of the facts
surrounding counsel’s conduct. Id. However, we will address the claims on
direct appeal where the record is sufficient. Id. The record here is sufficient.
III. Custodial Interrogation
Schlitter asserts a Miranda violation, claiming he was not properly advised
of his Miranda rights during a custodial interrogation on March 30, 2010. See
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444 (1966) (requiring a suspect be informed of
his right to remain silent and right to counsel). Schlitter claims all of his
“statements during the March 30 interrogation must be suppressed.” See
Palmer, 791 N.W.2d at 844–45 (noting statements are inadmissible when the
Miranda procedure is not followed). The State, on the other hand, claims
Schlitter was not in custody at the time of his March 30 interview.
To bring a viable claim, Schlitter must have been “in custody” during an
“interrogation.” Id. Custodial interrogation is defined as “questioning initiated by
law enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody or otherwise
deprived of his freedom of action in any significant way.” State v. Simmons, 714
N.W.2d 264, 274 (Iowa 2006). Whether a suspect is in custody depends on the
court’s objective analysis of the extent of the restraints on his freedom of action 30
in light of whether “a reasonable man in the suspect’s position would have
understood his situation” to be custodial. State v. Ortiz, 766 N.W.2d 244, 251
(Iowa 2009). The court takes four factors into consideration: “(1) the language
used to summon the individual; (2) the purpose, place, and manner of
interrogation; (3) the extent to which the [Schlitter] is confronted with evidence of
[his] guilt; and (4) whether the [Schlitter] is free to leave the place of questioning.”
State v. Miranda, 672 N.W.2d 753, 759 (Iowa 2003). Analyzing the facts of this
case in light of the four factors, we conclude Schlitter was not in custody during
his March 30 interview.
Schlitter acknowledges the interrogation room was unlocked, but points
out the room only had one exit and was used exclusively for questioning. He
claims the purpose of the interrogation was to gain incriminating statements from
him. He also claims he was confronted by evidence of guilt. Finally, Schlitter
claims he, subjectively, “clearly did not feel free to leave” based on the officers
continuing to question him after he asked the officers to “just stop” when they
were “getting too graphic” and based on the fact he did not leave until after he
promised to come back the next day for a polygraph.
In denying Schlitter’s motion to suppress, the district court specifically
found Simmons and Fiser to be credible. Schlitter’s motion did not single out the
March 30 interview but broadly asserted his Miranda rights were violated in all
four interviews. The district court concluded: “In each of the interviews,
[Schlitter’s] freedom of action was not curtailed to a degree associated with 31
formal arrest” and he “was not in custody during any of the interviews and he was
free to leave the place of questioning in all of the interviews.”
We first note the district court found credible the officers’ testimony that on
March 30 they were conducting an interview for the purposes of gathering
background information and there were no plans to take Schlitter into custody
because there was no evidence with which to charge him with a crime. This
testimony is further bolstered by the fact Schlitter was not charged with any
offense for another fifteen months. We defer to the court’s credibility
determination.
Second, Simmons did not use formal language or procedure to summons
Schlitter on March 30. Rather, Simmons called Schlitter and asked if he would
be willing to come to the DCI office in Cedar Rapids to answer additional
questions and Schlitter agreed. Third, it is undisputed that Schlitter drove himself
to the March 30 interview and the door to the interview room was always
unlocked.
Finally, the interview ended at 6:40 p.m. Schlitter answered questions
willingly and eventually ended the interview of his own volition in order to eat
supper with his family—“My family’s expecting me about 6:30 p.m. over at my
aunt’s.” After our de novo review and after giving deference to the district court’s
credibility determinations, we conclude Schlitter was not subject to a custodial
interrogation during the March 30 interview. Thus, his Miranda challenge fails. 32
IV. Involuntary Statements and Error Preservation
Alternatively, Schlitter claims that “even in a noncustodial setting,” his
March 30 statements must be suppressed if his “will was overborne” such that
his statements were involuntary. See State v. Neiderbach, 837 N.W.2d 180, 200
(Iowa 2013) (using “the totality-of-the-circumstances test”); State v. Madsen, 813
N.W.2d 714, 722 (Iowa 2012) (ruling “statements are voluntary if the defendant’s
will is not overborne”). Schlitter claims “under the circumstances, his will was
overborne.”
The State contends Schlitter did not preserve error and is making dual
claims on separate issues—a claim the statements were taken in violation of
Miranda and a claim the statements were involuntary. See State v. Snethen, 245
N.W.2d 308, 311 (Iowa 1976) (stating the defendant raised two grounds in his
motion to suppress (1) the statements were taken in violation of his Miranda
rights and (2) the statements were “not voluntary”—“[t]hese are separate
issues”).
We agree with the State. Schlitter’s motion to suppress did not claim his
“will was overborne” and challenge voluntariness as a separate claim. The
district court did not discuss any of the factors to be analyzed in a “will-was-
overborne” analysis but instead focused solely on factors relevant to the custody
issue under Miranda. See State v. Madsen, 813 N.W.2d at 722-23 (stating
factors in a “will-was-overborne” analysis). Because this issue was not
presented to and ruled upon by the district court, we will not address it on appeal.
See State v. Mitchell, 757 N.W.2d 431, 435 (Iowa 2008). 33
V. Ineffective Assistance—Standards
In order to prove trial counsel was ineffective Schlitter must show, by a
preponderance of the evidence, (1) counsel failed to perform an essential duty
and (2) he suffered prejudice as a result of counsel’s failure. See State v.
Robinson, 841 N.W.2d 615, 617 (Iowa Ct. App. 2013).
As to the duty element, counsel’s performance is measured against the
standard of a reasonably competent practitioner. Everett v. State, 789 N.W.2d
151, 158 (Iowa 2010). Schlitter must overcome the presumption of competent
assistance. See Millam v. State, 745 N.W.2d 719, 721 (Iowa 2008). To establish
prejudice, Schlitter must show “there is a reasonable probability that, but for
counsels’ unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
different.” Ledezma v. State, 626 N.W.2d 134, 143 (Iowa 2001). “A reasonable
probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id.
VI. Ineffective Assistance—Acquittal on Lesser Offenses
Schlitter challenges trial counsel’s failure to move for judgment of acquittal
on the offenses for which he was convicted—child endangerment resulting in
death and the involuntary manslaughter by public offense.
Regarding the prejudice alternative on an acquittal issue, “we have
required a showing that but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, a reasonable
probability of acquittal existed,” i.e., we inquire “whether the evidence presented
is sufficient to sustain a conviction of the offense in question.” State v. Breitbach,
488 N.W.2d 444, 446 (Iowa 1992). In making this inquiry, we examine the
evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict. Id. “We consider the 34
evidence substantial if it can convince a rational jury the defendant is guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Ross, 845 N.W.2d 692, 702 (Iowa 2014).
The jury instructions for “child endangerment resulting in death” required
the State to prove:
1. Between and including March 1, 2010, and March 21, 2010, the defendant was a person having custody or control over [K.S.]. 2. [K.S.] was under the age of fourteen years. 3. The defendant: a. Knowingly acted in a manner that created a substantial risk to [K.S.’s] physical health or safety; or b. By an intentional act or series of intentional acts used unreasonable force that resulted in bodily injury or was intended to cause serious injury; or c. Willfully deprived [K.S.] of necessary supervision or medical care appropriate to her age, being reasonably able to make such necessary provisions, which deprivation substantially harmed [K.S.’s] physical health; or d. Knowingly permitted the continuing physical abuse of [K.S.]. 4. The defendant’s act resulted in the death of [K.S.].
On appeal Schlitter does not dispute elements 1 or 2, but challenges the
sufficiency of the evidence on each of the four alternatives in element 3 and also
challenges the evidence showing any act by him resulted in K.S.’s death.
A. Schlitter Knowingly Acted in a Manner that Created a Substantial Risk to K.S.’s Physical Health or Safety
The State must prove Schlitter “acted with knowledge that [he] was
creating a substantial risk to the child’s safety.” State v. Millsap, 704 N.W.2d 426,
430 (Iowa 2005). Schlitter claims there were only two instances of Nicole and
Jeri thinking he handled K.S. too roughly. 13 He contends the amount of force
13 Nicole testified she saw him be rough with K.S. when he repeatedly sat K.S. in time- out. Jeri testified on one occasion she believed Schlitter took K.S. out of an Exersaucer 35
causing K.S.’s March 21 injuries was far more than those prior actions. Schlitter
also claims a “person would have to be aware” to apply the amount of force
testified to by the medical experts and his statements to the police, his texts to
Parmer, his act of showing the texted symptoms of child abuse to the DHS and
using them to try to figure out who abused K.S. show he did not know what had
happened to K.S.
Schlitter additionally claims the doctors concluded K.S.’s fatal injuries
most likely occurred immediately prior to the onset of K.S.’s symptoms and
Parmer was the sole caretaker of K.S. before the onset of symptoms. He also
claims this testimony is consistent with K.S.’s changes in behavior after he
started dating Parmer. Schlitter concludes it is thus most likely the fatal act took
place while Parmer was the sole caretaker and there is no evidence any acts by
him caused K.S.’s death.
We note the medical evidence did not show that all of K.S.’s injuries
happened under the exclusive care of Parmer. Rather, it showed all the injuries
happened under the exclusive care of both Schlitter and Parmer.
The State responds, “Schlitter knowingly created a substantial risk to
seventeen-month-old K.S. by leaving her with his girlfriend, Amy Parmer, even
though K.S. had previously sustained bruises and other injuries while in her
care.”
Knowledge in this context means Schlitter “acted with knowledge” he “was
creating substantial risk to the child’s safety.” See State v. Leckington, 713
too fast because he was consoling K.S. and K.S. had two straight red marks across her legs. 36
N.W.2d 208, 214 (Iowa 2006) (ruling “[e]xpert testimony, along with a good dose
of common sense, would enable” a reasonable jury to conclude the defendant
knowingly created a substantial risk). “Knowledge or intent is seldom capable of
direct proof.” State v. Miller, 308 N.W.2d 4, 7 (Iowa 1981). “Knowledge can be
shown by reasonable inferences drawn from the circumstances surrounding the
injury event and not only by direct evidence.” Millsap, 704 N.W.2d at 430.
One reasonable inference regarding Schlitter’s knowledge can be drawn
from the timing of the events. On two Monday mornings after K.S. spent the
weekend at Parmer’s apartment, March 8 and 15, daycare staffers noticed
bruising so significant that they took pictures and contacted the director, who
called the DHS after the second incident. Both times, Parmer took care of K.S.
while Schlitter was at a class. Schlitter dropped K.S. off at daycare and picked
her up on both Mondays. A reasonable jury could find Schlitter’s claims he did
not know about the bruises not credible. The jury was not required to believe
Schlitter’s self-serving version of the facts. See State v. Arne, 579 N.W.2d 326,
328 (Iowa 1998). A reasonable juror could conclude Schlitter knew he was
creating a substantial risk to K.S. by leaving her with Parmer on Sundays. See
State v. Nitcher, 720 N.W.2d 547, 556 (Iowa 2006) (“Inherent in our standard of
review of jury verdicts in criminal cases is the recognition that the jury was free to
reject certain evidence, and credit other evidence.”).
The jury could also draw reasonable inferences about Schlitter’s
knowledge based on his inconsistent statements. See id. For example, during
his March 30 interview, Schlitter denied knowing about the makeup, flatly stated 37
Amy does not wear makeup and then suggested Amy put vitamin K on the
bruise. In his June interview, Schlitter admitted he knew about K.S.’s black eye
on the morning of March 8, he and Parmer had a conversation about it, and he
vaguely remembers Parmer putting “stuff” on the eye. At trial he equivocated
about how K.S. looked on March 8 and his awareness of the makeup:
Q. Well, you were there [on March 8] when something was being put on K.S’s] eye; were you not? A. I believe I remember [Amy] putting some kind of vitamin K cream on is what she told me. Q. Okay. And correct me if I’m wrong, but there was a conversation that morning as well—you say vitamin K was being put on [K.S.]. It was later determined to be makeup. But . . . there was a conversation about that black eye that morning with Amy; wasn’t there? A. I don’t remember.
The prosecutor then refreshed Schlitter’s recollection that in the June interview
he was asked, “So there was a conversation about her black eye that morning
[March 8]; right?” and Schlitter answered, “Yeah, I must have.” Schlitter, in June,
also stated, “Well, we noticed it [black eye].” The questioning at trial continued:
Q. Okay. So is it your testimony today that you and Amy Parmer had a conversation about the black eye on [K.S.]? A. I honestly don’t remember. Q. All right. A. [June] was a year and a half later. Q. Okay. But it’s a pretty important conversation regarding an injury to your child that was later determined to have makeup on it; am I right? A. Yes. Q. Okay. And so do you remember today having a conversation with Amy Parmer about that? A. Not a conversation, no. Q. Okay. But on June 9, 2011, you did tell [the officer] that: didn’t you. A. I guess I did. .... Q. Okay. So is it fair to say that you were aware when [K.S.] went to daycare that she had a black eye? Is that fair to say based on what we’ve heard here? A. I wouldn’t call it a black eye. Q. That [is] the way it was referred to. A. It was referred to as a black eye, yes. Q. All right. A. It was not very prominent. 38
[The prosecutor showed Schlitter a March 8 photograph.] Q. Okay. And so your testimony is that this black eye was not prominent that day? A. It looks red to me.
Admissions are evidence, and admissions may be implied by Schlitter’s conduct
“subsequent to a crime, including fabrication, when such conduct indicates a
consciousness of guilt.” See State v. Cox, 500 N.W.2d 23, 25 (Iowa 1993). “A
false story told by a defendant to explain or deny a material fact against him is by
itself an indication of guilt and the false story is relevant to show that the
defendant fabricated evidence to aid his defense.” Id. A reasonable jury could
conclude Schlitter joined with Amy to make the March 8 bruises look less severe
by using makeup. A reasonable jury could conclude the injuries resulted from
abuse by Schlitter or Parmer or both since joint efforts were made to cover the
injuries and to minimize the injuries.
A reasonable jury could credit Sotelo over Schlitter’s denial of making the
March 15 statement, “She likes to beat herself up.” At trial, Schlitter admitted he
did not tell the nurse all of K.S. symptoms when he called for medical advice on
March 18. When his symptom-reporting omissions and non-credible denial of
Sotelo’s testimony are viewed together, a reasonable jury could conclude Schlitter
knew K.S. was in danger but he was unwilling to call attention to himself or
Parmer by providing a full list of her symptoms when he called for medical advice
two days after the DHS had questioned him about her bruises.
Dr. Beard, the first doctor to treat K.S., testified to her discussion of K.S.’s
condition with Schlitter: “I remember being in the family consultation room
explaining how sick [K.S.] was and how [she] could die and she was dying, and 39
[Schlitter] had no reaction, didn’t ask any questions, didn’t cry.” Dr. Beard
testified, generally, parents ask her questions when she is telling them their child
is gravely ill. A short time later, Schlitter said, “I'm sorry,” to K.S. When his “I’m
sorry” admission is combined with his total failure to react to Dr. Beard’s
message, a reasonable jury could believe Schlitter’s statement to K.S.
demonstrated his “knowledge” that he was responsible—at least in part—for her
condition.
Schlitter’s inconsistent or incomplete or evasive statements during his
multiple interviews provides further evidence of his knowledge of the substantial
risk to which he was subjecting K.S. During the first interview at UIHC with Fiser
and the Hinman, Schlitter did not tell them everything he knew about K.S.’s
symptoms. During the interview on March 23 with Fiser and Simmons, Schlitter
first revealed additional, significant symptoms: K.S. had been pulling out her hair,
she was sleeping eleven to twelve hours a night and would “wake up slow,” she
was waking up from naps at daycare crying as though she were having a
nightmare, she threw up on Schlitter just before bedtime on March 20, and she
had been given pizza for lunch on March 21 and tried to swallow it without
chewing.
Additionally, the jury learned that Schlitter and Parmer had exchanged a
number of text messages around the time K.S. was hospitalized and after her
death.14 Some texts speculated on how she could have received her injuries and
14 Investigators could not obtain texts exchanged on March 22 and March 25 because the phone company had server problems on those days. Therefore, none of the texts sent on those days were saved. 40
referred obliquely to attempts to come up with an explanation for K.S.’s injuries
that did not point to either Schlitter or Parmer. For example, on March 23, 2010,
Parmer texted Schlitter, “The web stuff [I’m] sending you is also from a
government site and other ones. I will send the site addresses also.” “The web
stuff” was information Parmer e-mailed to Schlitter about the symptoms of
shaken baby syndrome and head trauma. Later that day, Schlitter texted
Parmer, “[I’m] glad you found all that info, she had a lot of those symptoms the
past coup[l]e weeks, and [I’ve] told everyone about her symptoms.” Parmer
responded, “Right. [I’m] glad [I] I found them. I have to go talk to cops again
tomorrow.” A reasonable jury could conclude the injuries resulted from abuse by
Schlitter or Parmer or both since joint efforts were made to understand the
symptoms of abuse before they were subject to additional police interviews.
Finally, on March 31, three days after K.S. died and one day after
Schlitter’s March 30 interview, Schlitter sent Parmer a text that showed his
intimate relationship with Parmer took priority over K.S.: “[W]e are free to do
more without worrying [a]bout being walked in on lol [laugh out loud].” A
reasonable jury could conclude Schlitter callously picked Parmer over his
daughter despite his daughter suffering numerous injuries while staying at
Parmer’s apartment.
As to alternative (a)—knowingly acting in a manner that created a
substantial risk to K.S.’s health or safety—the overwhelming evidence of K.S.’s
injuries unquestionably being caused by abuse, the timing of the injuries,
Schlitter’s evasiveness when questioned by daycare staffers, doctors, 41
investigators, and the prosecutor at trial, combined with Schlitter’s failure to seek
medical care after March 18, all the while knowing he did not provide the nurse
with all symptoms in his March 18 phone call, provide substantial evidence.
B. Schlitter by an Intentional Acts or Series of Acts Used Unreasonable Force that Resulted in Bodily Injury or Was Intended to Cause Bodily Injury
Schlitter jointly argues this alternative and the prior alternative, relying
upon the claims asserted above for this issue. Focusing our appellate analysis
on the resulted-in-bodily-injury option, our review of the record shows substantial
evidence supporting alternative (b). Dr. Oral testified it is not unusual for a child
to cling to the person abusing them. Nicole testified to Schlitter’s increasing
frustration with K.S. as she became more mobile. Nicole also stated she did not
want to leave K.S. alone with Schlitter due to his “short fuse.” Nicole wanted to
get K.S. back after she watched Schlitter roughly grab K.S. over and over and sit
her down while K.S. was starting to get sick. Despite Schlitter’s attempt to
manipulate her testimony, Nicole told the jury she believed Schlitter again picked
K.S. up too roughly, causing the numerous bruises depicted in the photographic
exhibits. In the June interview, Schlitter admitted to becoming frustrated with
K.S., to having picked her up roughly, and to having squeezed her face.15
Dr. Volk testified K.S. pulling out her hair is a sign of being under extreme
stress for days. Doctors also testified K.S. suffered at least two traumatic events
15 Schlitter’s grandmother testified Schlitter sometimes became frustrated while giving K.S. her oral medicine and would forcibly hold her head still with his fingers. He also bought an eyedropper to force water because he was worried about dehydration. Schlitter’s step-grandfather testified K.S. resisted taking her medicine, and Schlitter tried the best he could to get her to take it. 42
with the older event occurring several days before K.S. was hospitalized. This
“several days” period coincides with the March 18-21 period when Schlitter’s
grandparents were out of town and not available to help him with K.S’s care.
Until Schlitter moved out of Nicole’s home, he had never taken care of K.S. for
more than forty-eight hours at a time, and during those forty-eight hours either his
grandparents or Parmer were present. Schlitter admitted he was more frustrated
with K.S. when she was sick and understood “the arrows” pointed to him.
As to the more recent traumatic event, in his June interview Schlitter
admitted he was frustrated with K.S. at lunch time on March 21 and repeatedly
picked her up and sat her down. He admitted being so frustrated that he had to
leave the room. Pathology witnesses testified the more recent traumatic event
could have occurred around noon on March 21. Dr. Oral opined an older and a
newer traumatic event contributed to K.S.’s death, “in a constellation,” and
substantial evidence showed Schlitter was caring for K.S. during those times.
K.S. showed signs of extreme injury the week of March 15. Schlitter’s
intentional infliction of physical abuse is shown by his failure to mention her
serious symptoms on March 18 and by the fact he failed to take her to her March
19 appointment—three days after he had been questioned about her bruises by
the DHS and two days before she was rushed to the hospital. At trial, Dr. Oral
addressed K.S.’s recovery from her older injuries—given that she was still
moving around “until the very last day, [K.S.] might have recovered from those
injuries and gone to her baseline, or she might have deteriorated to a more grave
neurologic status even if it’s not as severe as the one she ended up with.” With 43
the second option—some deterioration—her caretakers could take one of two
paths. One, seek medical care early enough to help her recover. Two,
especially if they knew that “something was inflicted” on her, not seek medical
care “for fear of the medical providers understanding this was inflicted injury” and
only seek medical care when it is too late for intervention. A reasonable jury
could find Schlitter chose the second path and did not seek medical care for K.S.
after March 18 “for fear of the medical providers understanding this was inflicted
injury” by him.
Schlitter’s lack of outrage or curiosity at St. Luke’s Hospital about what
had happened to K.S., his refusal to tell Dr. Jennissen at UIHC what K.S. had
been like when he left for his class, his lack of concern about her bruises, his
non-credible statement that Irwin failed to ask him about the early bruise, his
varying accounts of how K.S. obtained the bruises, and his “I’m sorry” statement
to K.S. in the first emergency room, when added to the evidence discussed
above, show substantial evidence Schlitter intentionally inflicted injuries on K.S.
that resulted in bodily injury, alternative (b).
C. Schlitter Willfully Deprived [K.S.] of Necessary Supervision or Medical Care Appropriate to Her Age . . . Which Deprivation Substantially Harmed [K.S.’s] Physical Health
Schlitter claims K.S. was always supervised and he repeatedly took her to
the medical clinic or called about her illnesses. Schlitter believed K.S. was sick
and thought her bruises were typical for a kid. He points out neither Irwin nor
Bliss took action regarding the bruises. We note K.S.’s bruising was not
prominent or concerning when observed by Irwin and Bliss. Schlitter concludes 44
he was taking every reasonable step to provide supervision or medical care for
K.S.
The State responds Schlitter deprived K.S. of supervision necessary for
her well-being by willfully failing to protect her from physical abuse at the hands
of Parmer under the circumstances discussed in alternative (a). We specifically
note the text Schlitter sent to Parmer about their sex life only days after K.S. had
died and agree with the State. There is no reason to repeat our analysis.
Second, the State claims Schlitter willfully deprived K.S. of necessary
medical care by failing to seek care when she exhibited signs of devastating
injury. We agree and adopt our discussions above. We also note Dr. Oral
testified the failure to seek medical care for the symptoms K.S. was exhibiting
“was medical neglect which might have contributed to the final outcome.” Dr.
Oral also opined that one “probable” scenario is K.S. had these lingering
symptoms and manifestation of a brain injury, but medical care was not sought in
time. We conclude substantial evidence supports alternative (c).
D. Knowingly Permitted the Continuing Physical Abuse of K.S.
Schlitter argues he did not knowingly permit Parmer to abuse K.S because
he was an inexperienced, first-time father who did not recognize that K.S. was
being abused. He claims his lack of knowledge is demonstrated by his text
messages to Parmer and his behavior with DHS investigator Hinman. “Further,
K.S. never reacted negatively to him.”
We first note Dr. Oral stated an abused child will cling to their abuser.
Second, our analysis in alternative (a) shows substantial evidence proving 45
Schlitter was aware that Parmer was physically abusing K.S. but continued to
entrust K.S. to her care every Sunday evening. Thus, our analysis also shows
substantial proof supports alternative (d).
E. Conclusion
After trial from December 3-21, 2012, creating over 2400 pages of
transcript, the jury assessed the credibility of thirty-nine witnesses. A reasonable
jury could find Schlitter guilty beyond a reasonable doubt under each of the
instruction’s four alternatives for child endangerment resulting in death. Thus,
trial counsel did not breach an essential duty by failing to move for a judgment of
acquittal. Second, Schlitter failed to meet the prejudice prong of this claim by
failing to show “but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, a reasonable probability
of acquittal existed.”16 See Breitbach, 488 N.W.2d at 446. Accordingly, defense
counsel did not render ineffective assistance.
VII. Ineffective Assistance—Prosecutor Misconduct
Schlitter claims trial counsel’s failure to timely object to the prosecutor’s
misconduct during closing argument denied him a fair trial because the
prosecutor’s statements improperly urged the jury to decide the case on
16 Schlitter also claims counsel was ineffective in failing to move for judgment of acquittal on the offense of involuntary manslaughter by public offense. He claims there is insufficient evidence Schlitter committed the public offense of child endangerment. The jury was instructed the State first must prove Schlitter “recklessly committed” the crime of child endangerment under any of the four alternatives already discussed extensively. Noting “reckless” is a high bar; Schlitter claims his conduct under the circumstances does not rise to the level of “highly unreasonable” or “extreme departure.” Second, the State had to prove that when Schlitter so acted, he unintentionally caused the death of K.S. As discussed above, there is substantial evidence for each of the four alternatives, and we conclude a reasonable jury could find Schlitter acted recklessly. Also as discussed above, there was substantial evidence Schlitter’s acts caused the death of K.S. Thus, counsel did not breach a duty resulting in prejudice by his inaction. 46
something other than the evidence by arguing: (1) to do justice for K.S. the jury
had to find Schlitter guilty; (2) the jury had a sacred duty to find Schlitter guilty to
protect the public and the innocent; and (3) the jury had to hold Schlitter
accountable.17
For Schlitter to establish a due process violation based upon prosecutorial
misconduct, he must first establish proof of misconduct. See State v. Graves,
668 N.W.2d 860, 869 (Iowa 2003). “Misconduct occurs when the prosecutor
[uses] unnecessary and over inflammatory means that go outside the record or
threaten to improperly incite the passions of the jury.” State v. Carey, 709
N.W.2d 547, 556 (Iowa 2006). If he establishes misconduct, Schlitter must then
prove the misconduct resulted in prejudice to the extent he was denied a fair trial.
See Graves, 668 N.W.2d at 869.
17 The prosecutor argued: You’ve heard all but the final lines of [K.S.’s] story. Now you have the opportunity to write the final lines of her story. By holding accountable those that took [K.S.] from this world, the Defendant, her own father, you can write justice to her story. .... [T]he laws of our country also grant our citizens the solemn and sacred duty of protecting the safety of the public and of the innocent by judging those that commit brutal acts of abuse and neglect against fellow humans to be guilty when it’s been shown beyond a doubt that’s reasonable. What more important honor can there be bestowed to protect the rights of citizens and acknowledge those rights and find them accountable through the rest of us. This is how our justice system works. This trial has demonstrated how our justice system works. Mr. Schlitter was afforded his right to a fair trial. He had an opportunity to confront the witnesses against him. The evidence has been submitted and shows he’s guilty of murder in the first degree and child endangerment beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial is now done and the sacred duty is now being passed on to you. You can write the final lines of [K.S.’s] story, and you can also be authors of justice with the jury form. (Emphasis added.) 47
Schlitter cites State v. Musser, where the court recognized “there is
always some gray area between proper and improper comment.” 721 N.W.2d
734, 755 (Iowa 2006). The Musser court ruled the prosecutor “inappropriately
diverted the jury from its duty to decide the case solely on the evidence by
injecting issues broader than the guilt or innocence of the defendant and by
making predictions of the consequences of the jury’s verdict.” Id. (finding
misconduct where the prosecutor asked the jurors to find the defendant guilty
“because it is the right thing to do,” and “because the only way that he will care is
if you make him care,” and urged the jurors to “[m]ake him responsible because,
if you don’t, no one will”). The Musser court then turned to resolving whether the
defendant was prejudiced by the misconduct and ruled Musser was not denied a
fair trial:
The evidence against the defendant was strong, the comments did not go to a central issue in the case, and the improper statements by the prosecutor were isolated. In addition, the jurors were instructed they were to decide the defendant’s guilt or innocence “from the evidence and the law in these instructions,” and that evidence did not include “[s]tatements, arguments, and comments by the lawyers.”
Id. at 757.
Even if we assume—as Schlitter argues—the prosecutor’s statements
constituted misconduct, based on our review of the entire record we do not
believe the alleged misconduct was sufficiently prejudicial to require a new trial.
See id. Schlitter’s case is one that necessarily involves emotion—the death of a
child. Here, as in Musser: (1) the jury was specifically instructed to base its
verdict “only upon the evidence and these instructions” and that the “statements, 48
arguments, questions, and comments by the lawyers” are not evidence; and (2)
the case against Schlitter was strong—the medical experts agreed K.S. died from
non-accidental trauma and agreed abuse was inflicted on more than one
occasion causing multiple injuries. It is undisputed Schlitter cared for K.S. during
the time the trauma occurred and he did so at a time when his usual helpers, his
grandparents, were gone. In the June interview, Schlitter admitted the “arrows”
of guilt point to him. In addition, the prosecutor’s statements constituted a
general exhortation to the jury and did not undermine Schlitter’s defense by
focusing on any particular issue or witness. Finally, the challenged statements
were isolated, as shown by the fact the challenged comments occurred on two
transcript pages of the sixty-five overall pages of the prosecutor’s closing
arguments.
In these circumstances, Schlitter was not denied a fair trial. Accordingly,
counsel was not ineffective in failing to make a meritless objection to the
prosecutor’s statements. See id. at 752.
VII. Ineffective Assistance—Failure to Investigate Parmer’s Co-workers
Schlitter’s trial occurred before Parmer’s trial. On January 29, 2013,
Simmons conducted an interview of Parmer’s coworker Brandi Betts. Betts
stated Parmer was fired for taking money from the restaurant and Parmer would
constantly change her story about what happened when she discussed K.S.’s
death with employees. The State informed Schlitter’s defense counsel of the
interview, and counsel filed a motion for new trial based on newly discovered
evidence. The motion alleged: (1) Schlitter’s “whole trial strategy was premised 49
on the fact that Ms. Parmer was the one responsible for the injuries and death
and that [Schlitter] knew nothing about it”; (2) Betts would have been called to
show the jury Ms. Parmer “was constantly lying and changing her story about the
injuries she caused”; and (3) Betts’s testimony “would have changed the jury’s
mind as to whether [Schlitter] had any knowledge of Ms. Parmer’s actions
because it showed Parmer was lying to multiple people from the very beginning,”
and the jury thus could infer she also deceived Schlitter. The court denied the
motion.
On appeal, Schlitter alleges a competent attorney would have questioned
Parmer’s coworkers prior to trial and discovered this evidence. Schlitter further
claims he was prejudiced because the testimony showed Parmer was a deceitful
person and would have supported the theory did not know about the abuse, in
part, because of Parmer’s deceit.
We conclude Schlitter has failed to show the result of the trial would have
been different if the evidence from Betts had been presented; thus, his
ineffective-assistance claim fails on the prejudice prong. Schlitter contends the
Betts evidence supports his claim he was unaware of the abuse. But this
evidence does not overcome the abundant evidence discussed above in section
VI showing Schlitter was aware of the abuse and nevertheless defended Parmer.
Second, Betts’s testimony that Parmer gave varying accounts of how K.S.
sustained her injuries and stole money can hardly be more beneficial to Schlitter
than the evidence at trial that Parmer told one friend she had taken K.S.’s life and
told another friend she “might have killed a kid.” That testimony directly 50
implicates Parmer and is stronger than the inferences arising from Betts’s
testimony.
Finally, the State presented other evidence showing Parmer was deceitful.
Nicole testified Parmer had made a “fool of a man” before and she thought
Schlitter was a fool when he defended Parmer at the hospital. Eric Olmstead,
who had an intimate relationship with Parmer, testified Parmer deceived him
“about a whole lot of things.” The defense also presented evidence of Parmer’s
deceitfulness. Schlitter testified he had been warned about Parmer, he did not
realize she was seeing another man, and he did not know Parmer had called
K.S. a brat.
In the circumstances of this case, Parmer has failed to prove he was
prejudiced by counsel’s failure to investigate. Thus, counsel did not render
ineffective assistance.
AFFIRMED.
Related
Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
State of Iowa v. Zyriah Schlitter, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-of-iowa-v-zyriah-schlitter-iowactapp-2014.