Mother, 36, tried to ‘sacrifice’ her son, 2, before ‘murdering him and her nine-year-old daughter’ – as her chilling final social media post is revealed

A Missouri woman who walked into a police station last week and admitted to killing both her children told officers that she had tried to “sacrifice” her two-year-old son Isaac before the murders.

In her horrific story to Festus police, Ashley Parmeley, 36, said she shot her nine-year-old daughter Scarlet.

But new court documents reveal the evil mother first tried to “sacrifice” her son in St. Francois County before shooting her daughter.

After fatally shooting Scarlet, Parmeley drove north with both children in the car, but realized her earlier attempt to end Isaac’s life was unsuccessful, according to court documents obtained by Fox 8 New Orleans.

That’s when investigators say she drowned her son at the Timber Creek Resort, on the outskirts of St. Louis, 13 miles from the police station she eventually drove to.

When she arrived at Festus Police Station, Ashley Parmeley’s clothes were described as ‘wet’ and ‘untidy’. She told police she tried to “sacrifice” her son before killing her daughter, court documents show

Parmeley now faces a possible death sentence after killing her daughter Scarlet and her son Isaac, pictured here

The young boy was found in the pool of a water fountain and was pronounced dead by emergency responders, according to the documents.

Given these new aggravating factors, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday that her son’s murder charge — initially in the second degree — has been upgraded to first-degree murder.

Earlier Wednesday, the St. Francois County prosecutor also charged Parmeley with first-degree murder in her daughter’s death.

New concerns about Parmeley’s mental health also surfaced in the past week, after it was revealed that she had changed her Facebook profile picture to a black screen in the hours leading up to the double murder of her own children.

The St. Louis outlet also reported that Parmeley posted about “struggling with depression” four years ago, before her son was born.

‘I isolated myself. I came across as very timid and unfriendly and in reality I needed a friend more than anything,” Parmeley wrote on Facebook. “I always wondered if the children would be happier or better off without me being their primary caregiver, because I knew they deserved a much better role model.”

Law enforcement officers investigate a vehicle that Parmeley allegedly drove to Festus City Hall and Police Station on Tuesday in her attempt to confess to a double murder

Additionally, family court records showed that Parmeley was in a custody battle with Scarlet’s father. The case started when her daughter was born in 2015 and was resolved in 2021.

Parmeley was also given custody of her then 11-year-old niece while the case over who would be Scarlet’s primary guardian played out. The niece stayed with Parmeley until she turned 18, KMOV reported.

The Parmeley family, and not just Ashley, has a history of extreme violence. Parmeley’s uncle was convicted in 1999 of murdering his parents, who were her grandparents, KMOV reported.

Neighbors of Parmeley spoke out and shared their utter disbelief that her children are now dead.

Brandy Trask, who lives near the Parmeley home in Festus, told Fox 8 that her daughter played with Scarlet. Trask said she saw Scarlet every day and saw no signs that she was unhappy or having problems at home.

“I cannot fathom why this would happen to anyone, let alone two sweet children who had nothing but love in their hearts,” Trask said.

Ginny Russell also has a daughter who played with Scarlet in the neighborhood.

“She was just an amazing little girl,” Russell said of Scarlet.

Parmeley’s family has a history of violence, local media report. Parmeley’s uncle was convicted in 1999 of murdering his parents, who were her grandparents

A wake was held for both children on Wednesday evening. All games at the local Little League fields were canceled, except for a softball game in which Scarlet’s team was playing.

At the start of the game, her teammates released balloons in her honor, Fox 8 reported.

Scarlet would be entering fourth grade at Festus Elementary School next year.

“Scarlet’s teachers and administrators say she was a bubbly, energetic and reliable student. They say she was caring, compassionate, eager to please and had a good sense of humor,” read a statement from the school.

‘She was able to make friends with everyone and was really looking forward to going to Year 4 when classes started again in August.’

Parmeley is being held in the Jefferson County Jail without bond.

Now facing two counts of first-degree murder, Parmeley could be sentenced to death or life in prison, with the possibility of parole.