According to Magistrate judge Bob Couey, the 2 suspects were not eligible for a set bond on their first appearance due to the nature of the charges against them.
Both will face a preliminary hearing within a week to 10 days of the morning proceedings.
Both Heather Parker and Eric Castro did not make any statements before the court. Parker simply asked the judge when she would be able to see her court appointed attorney, which the judge couldn't answer not knowing the schedule of the public defenders office.
Update:
Kailee Marie Parker’s life ended Monday, but the incidents leading up to her death started before then, police said.
Kailee’s mother, Heather Parker, and her boyfriend, Eric Castro, of 100B Reeceburg Road, Silver Creek, were arrested Friday and charged with felony murder, malice murder, felony cruelty to children and felony aggravated battery.
An autopsy showed that the 2-year-old died from multiple, blunt traumatic injuries to the head, said Floyd County Deputy Coroner Gene Proctor.
“It wasn’t just from one day or one time,” said Sgt. Teri Davis of the Floyd County Police Department.
Emergency officials were called to the intersection of Reeceburg and Booze Mountain roads Monday afternoon to reports of a child that was unresponsive.
Castro was holding the child in his arms and was spotted by someone driving by, Davis said.
The man stopped to see if he could help. Castro told those who tried to help Kailee and police that he thought the child was having a seizure, Davis said.
Kailee succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Floyd Medical Center.
Parker had left the home 30 to 40 minutes prior to the 911 call, Davis said.
The Floyd County of Department of Family and Children’s Services took custody of 8-month-old twins also living in the home, Davis said. The twins did not appear to be abused, she said.
Parker and Castro were being held without bond late Friday.
Update:
The mother and a man who lived in the home with 2-year-old Kailee Marie Parker are now charged with her murder.
Eric Castro and Heather Parker, both of 100-B Reeceburg Road are charged with felony murder, malice murder, first degree cruelty to children and felony aggravated battery, according to Sgt. Teri Davis of the Floyd County Police Department.
Read tomorrow's Rome News-Tribune for more on this story.
Previous story:
An autopsy revealed that a 2-year-old girl who died Monday was “assaulted by others” and died of multiple blunt traumatic injuries to the head, said Floyd County Deputy Coroner Gene Proctor.
Floyd County Police Department officers are currently investigating Kailee Marie Parker’s death as a homicide.
“There were injuries that could not be explained by an accident,” said Maj. Mark Wallace of the Floyd County Police Department. “To honor this child, we need to avoid emotions and go forward with a thorough investigation.”
No arrests had been made as of Thursday.
Funeral services for Kailee will be held today at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, 3002 Maple Road.
She will be laid to rest at Oaknoll Memorial Gardens on Shorter Avenue after the funeral services.
Kailee was pronounced dead at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Floyd Medical Center after a series of events that happened outside her residence at 110B Reeceburg Road, police reported.
A family member ran from the residence with the little girl to a neighbor’s home, police reported.
Police said family member told them they thought she was having seizure.
Motorists traveling near the intersection of Reeceburg Road and Booze Mountain Road were flagged down to give CPR to Kailee.
Tim Spriggs was one of those motorists. He was on his way from his Rosedale home to Cedartown to do some concrete work.
Spriggs, who does occasional work for the state, said he is required to take a CPR course every year.
As he talked about trying to save Kailee after the ambulance drove away, he cried. “It’s just hard to take,” he said Monday afternoon. “I have seven grandchildren.”