Shaylyn’s family designs plaques, benches to thank community
SPENCER, Ind. (WISH) – Family members of a baby girl whose life tragically ended in Owen County are making sure her story is not forgotten.
Shaylyn Ammerman disappeared from her father’s home in Spencer in March. She was found dead a day later in a wooded area.
24-Hour News 8 talked with Shaylyn’s maternal grandmother, Carol Stewart, Thursday afternoon. She said she’s doing a little better emotionally, but she said Shaylyn’s mother Jessica continues to struggle, especially with Mother’s Day around the corner.
As painful as everything has been, Stewart said they still want to highlight the positives that have come out of this situation and honor those who helped bring Shaylyn home.
If gratitude could be measured in words, then the paragraph on the plaques Stewart held in her hands simply isn’t enough.
“No words are adequate to say how much it meant to us, to our family, friends neighbors, coworkers and community in general that our baby girl was brought back to us,” she said reading the plaque out loud. She had five of them designed. One is for her coworkers, the others are for the Spencer Police Department, Indiana State Police, Owen County Sheriff’s Department, and Owen County Fire Department.
“It’s not even a drop in the bucket but it’s a little, a little way of saying thank you and to show that we do appreciate everything they have done,” she said.
Outside of her workplace, the four agencies not only investigated Shaylyn’s disappearance but found her body and arrested Kyle Parker as the murder suspect.
“I don’t think people necessarily think about what the first responders actually do and go through and what they see and what they see can never be erased,” she said.
But how her family chooses to remember her can erase some of the pain. Using flowers from Shaylyn’s funeral, her family planted a memorial garden.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever planted a flower, let alone a garden,” she said. “Just having this as our little special place for her.”
Shaylyn’s family also thought of a way for the community to remember her. A local limestone quarry designed two benches. They both read, “In loving memory of Shaylyn Michelle Kay.” One bench will be placed at the Spencer Police station, the other outside the Owen County Courthouse.
Stewart said it’s another way of saying thank you but also to keep Shaylyn’s memory alive.
“It would mean the world to me that I know in my heart that she won’t be forgotten. We’ll never forget her but you don’t want the world to forget her either,” she said.
The plaques and the benches will be presented at an event Saturday in Spencer.
It starts at 4:00pm at the Methodist Fellowship Hall. Author Cathryn Sage will have a book signing for her book “Destiny’s Secret.” The book is about how to prevent, identify, and treat child sex abuse. All proceeds from book sales will benefit Shaylyn’s foundation.
The plaques and benches will be presented at 6 p.m. Afterwards, there will be a balloon release, guest speakers, and poem readings. The event then moves to Cooper Park for a lantern release and a closing prayer. The public is invited to attend.