Custodial dad "suspected" of 1st-degree murder in death of 17-month-old daughter has bond lowered by judge (Hiawatha, Iowa)

Here's a perfect example of the double standard. While Casey Anthony is demonized as the most Evil Monster on the planet since Hitler, custodial dad ZYRIAH SCHLITTER has excuses made as to why the authorities should go easy on him. Still unemplained: how and why this father who "allegedly" murdered his toddler daughter--just weeks after getting possession of her--got custody to start with, and who gave it to him. Something stinks in Iowa....

http://easterniowanewsnow.com/2011/07/15/toddlers-father-charged-with-murder-pleads-not-guilty/

UPDATE: Bond lowered for father charged with murder in toddler’s death
Posted July 15, 2011 11:53 am by Vanessa Miller/SourceMedia Group News

UPDATE 4 p.m.: A district court judge has lowered the bond for Zyriah Schlitter, suspected of first-degree murder in the death of his 17-month-old daughter, from $500,000 to $100,000.

Schlitter, 24, of Cedar Rapids, also has the option of paying 10 percent of the $100,000 cash or surety bond, like his co-defendant and ex-girlfriend Amy Parmer did earlier this week.

Parmer, 27, of Hiawatha, is free on bond and under supervision of the Department of Corrections pending her trial, and Schlitter will be under the same supervision if he posts the $10,000.

He was still at the Linn County Jail as of 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Judge Marsha Beckelman agreed to lower Schlitter’s bond based on his lack of criminal history, his extensive family ties to the community, the fact that he has a job waiting for him and because he cooperated with authorities during a lengthy investigation into his suspected involvement in Kamryn Schlitter’s death.

Before asking for a lower bond Friday morning, Schlitter pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks asked Beckelman to keep Schlitter’s bond at $500,000, in part, because he’s learned that Schlitter has “contemplated taking his own life to be with the victim.”

“He’s facing life in prison and a life of public repudiation,” Maybanks told Beckelman on Friday. “He has all the reason in the world to disappear, and it’s the state’s opinion that this is a crime of a nature and severity that has a significant flight risk.”

Schlitter and Parmer were arrested June 21 on suspicion of first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death nearly 15 months after Schlitter’s young daughter, Kamryn Schlitter, died of head trauma on March 28, 2010.

Both Schlitter and Parmer originally were booked into the Linn County Jail on $1 million bonds, but a judge agreed two days later to lower their bonds to $500,000, and Parmer’s bond was dropped even further to $100,000 last week.

Parmer was allowed to pay 10 percent of the $100,000 cash or surety bond, and she posted the amount Monday.

Defense attorney Thomas Gaul told Beckelman on Friday that his client should receive similar treatment, but he asked that Schlitter’s bond be set even lower – at $50,000 with the ability to post just 10 percent of that in order to leave jail.

“Mr. Schlitter has no criminal record except for a traffic ticket,” Gaul said.

He pointed to Schlitter’s family members sitting behind him in the courtroom as proof that he has support and people willing to hold him accountable. Gaul also said he has an employer that is willing to continue to provide him work.

“The state investigated this case for a year, and he cooperated with police,” Gaul said. “He was under no kind of restraint, and he stayed here. He didn’t flee.”

Schlitter appeared in court Friday with his attorney, but didn’t speak. His family members appeared somber. One of them carried a bag decorated with pictures of Kamryn, and other waived and said, “Bye Zyriah,” as he left the courtroom.

According to a criminal complaint filed in the case, Schlitter and Parmer from March 1 to March 21, 2010, had exclusive care and custody of Kamryn, who died at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City a week after paramedics found her suffering from seizure-like symptoms at 245 Clymer Rd. in Hiawatha.

Workers at a daycare center noticed bruising to her face March 8 and March 15, and makeup appeared to cover the mark the first time it was noticed, according to the complaint.

Investigators suspect that Schlitter and Parmer either together or individually inflicted Kamryn’s fatal injuries, allowed the other person to abuse the girl or failed to protect her, according to the complaint. Both people made statements indicating that they knew about Kamryn’s injuries and were frustrated with caring for her, the complaint alleges.

Kamryn suffered her “final, life threatening, intentionally inflicted and fatal injuries” during the last 72 hours of her life while already in a weakened and deteriorated state of health, according to the complaint.

The pair hasn’t offered a reasonable medical explanation as to how Kamryn suffered her injuries, the complaint states.

Parmer and Schlitter were named as defendants in a wrongful-death lawsuit filed in March by Kamryn’s mother, Nicole King. But King last week dropped that lawsuit, in which she accused them of “beating and abuse” that led to her daughter’s death.

King has not given a reason for dropping the lawsuit.