Death of 18-month-old ruled a homicide

Medical examiners have ruled the death of an 18-month-old Cedar Rapids girl a homicide, but no charges have been filed in connection with the case.

Kamryn Schlitter, died March 28 at an Iowa City hospital, one week after medics found her suffering from seizure-like symptoms inside an apartment at 245 Clymer Road in Hiawatha.

Schlitter's death was ruled a homicide caused by head injuries due to “non-accidental (inflicted) trauma,” according to a death certificate filed in Johnson County.

Hiawatha Police Chief Dennis Marks said investigators have spoken to the person who was caring for Schlitter the night of March 21, but no arrests have been made. He said the case is still progressing and has not stalled.

“We have spoken with several people as part of the investigation, but as far as identifying somebody as being a suspect or person of interest, I'm not going to do that at this point,” Marks said.

Marks said the person who lived in the apartment has other children, but he declined to say if that person might be held responsible for Schlitter's death.

Interim Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden said the same person is currently involved in a separate court case where an application has been filed to terminate the person's parental rights. He said a final decision is still pending.

The Gazette has chosen not to identify that person, because no charges have been filed.

Vander Sanden indicated that case is one reason why charges have not been filed in relation to Schlitter's death, but is not the only reason. He said a large amount of case materials, including three 3-ring binders, have been forwarded to his office from Hiawatha police and the Division of Criminal Investigation.

Medics found 18-month-old Kamryn Schlitter suffering from seizure-like symptoms in this apartment building, 245 Clymer Rd., in Hiawatha on March 21, as shown Monday, July 19, 2010. Schlitter's death has been ruled a homicide. (Jeff Raasch/SourceMedia Group News)

“It's not the kind of case you review once,” Vander Sanden said. “You look through it with a fine-toothed comb.”

Marks declined to comment about the reasons why nearly four months have passed since Schlitter's death without charges being filed.

“Obviously, we want to make sure we fully investigate the incident,” Marks said. “I don't want to jump to any conclusions, one way or another. We're just going to be thorough and take our time, to make sure the results are proper.”

Schlitter was the daughter of Zyriah Schlitter and Nicole King, according to an obituary published in The Gazette. She loved music and dancing, and her favorite TV show was “Yo Gabba Gabba,” the obituary said.