TYLER DASHER - 1 yo (11/2011) - Affton (SW of St Louis) MO

Homicide detectives are responding to a path along the south side of the River Des Peres
for a report of a boy found dead there.

Police have been searching the Affton area for a toddler reported missing about 11 a.m., authorities say.

St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch said is not yet clear if
the dead child is the boy police have been searching for since 11
a.m., but "we are not missing any other children in this area."

The child was discovered along the edge of the New St. Marcus
Cemetery by two passersby walking dogs, not a searcher, authorities
said. The dog walkers were still at the crime scene Tuesday
afternoon but would not comment.

St. Louis County police issued a SARA Alert (St. Louis Area
Regional Amber Alert) this afternoon for a missing boy, Tyler
Dasher. Police were canvassing the 7700 block of Clevedon Street
for a the 1-year-old boy.
The missing boy is white, has blonde hair, blues eyes, a red
birthmark on his left shoulder and was wearing pajamas with
pictures of trucks on them, police said. He has four upper teeth
and four lower teeth. The boy weighs about 20 pounds and is 2 feet
tall. He can stand but he cannot walk well on his own.
Police say Tyler's mother, Shelby A. Dasher, 20, put him to bed
about 10:30 p.m. Monday, overslept this morning and reported him
missing to police after she awoke about 11 a.m.
"There is no way to explain how this child got out of his crib,
out of his room and out of the house," said Officer Rick Eckhard of
the St. Louis County Police Department.
Police said Tyler's mother and grandmother were the only adults
in the house last night and this morning. Tyler's father lives
elsewhere in the metro area. Police said there was were no signs of
anyone breaking into the home and nothing awry inside.
Police were questioning Tyler's mother and father at a police
station this afternoon. Police have not identified any suspects.
"No one has been identified as a suspect, nor has anyone been
eliminated as a suspect," Fitch said.
River Des Peres Parkway was shut down to traffic Tuesday at
Gravois Avenue as police investigate. Crime scene tape also
surrounded some of the cemetery's headstones.
A witness told police a man was seen walking along a nearby
street with a child wrapped in a blue blanket with images of stars,
footballs, baseballs and soccer balls on it. Police showed a
duplicate blanket from the house and set of pajamas to reporters Tuesday afternoon.
The man was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.
Police have closed Clevedon Street between Seth and Third
avenues and were searching the area using police dogs, a helicopter
and a tactical team.
The block is off Des Peres Parkway along the River Des Peres
near the St. Louis city and county border.
A neighbor said she became suspcious about 11:30 p.m. Monday
after seeing a car with a loud exhaust system make a U-turn on the
block and drive off.
Several relatives of the boy arrived at the scene Tuesday
afternoon crying and consoling each other.
Meagan Mayer, a childhood friend of Dasher's who showed up at
the search scene today distraught and sobbing, said she Dasher and
the Tyler's father had no domestic problems. She said she believes
the Tyler's father would never take him.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/dead-child-found-near-missing-boy-s-st-louis-county/article_19db47d0-0fbf-11e1-b8ec-0019bb30f31a.html#ixzz1dogRJTo4

A family member provided this photo of 1-year-old Tyler Dasher,
who was reported missing from his Affton home on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011.


ST. LOUIS COUNTY • Homicide detectives are
responding to a path along the south side of the River Des Peres
for a report of a boy found dead there.

Police have been searching the Affton area for a toddler
reported missing about 11 a.m., authorities say.


Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/dead-child-found-near-missing-boy-s-st-louis-county/article_19db47d0-0fbf-11e1-b8ec-0019bb30f31a.html#ixzz1dohqOJcT

Posters Note: I'll put this in missing for now until there is confirmation the body is Tyler.

"There is no way to explain how this child got out of his crib,
out of his room and out of the house," said Officer Rick Eckhard of
the St. Louis County Police Department.

---Oh I know a way to explain it. Can you say, Mommy?
Who was this mysterious male who was seen with a baby? Can you say Mommy's boyfriend?

A deceased child that was found in a wooded area in
the St. Marcus Cemetery is that of Tyler Dasher. He is the 13 month
old missing from his Affton home since Monday night. The Medical
Examiner confirmed the boy’s identification Tuesday night. A cause of
death has not been determined and there is still no known motive for the
apparent homicide. The boy’s body was found about 100 yards from the
subdivision where he lived.
A S.A.R.A.A. Alert that had been issued has been cancelled.

Police spokesman Rick Eckhardt says the mother of missing Tyler
Dasher put him to bed last night at about 10:30 p.m. in the 7700 block
of Clevedon and when she went to wake him up this morning at about
11:30, he was gone.

Police conducted an exhaustive search of the
neighborhood. “During neighborhood search, an individual told police
they saw a man walking down the street carrying a child wrapped in a
blue blanket.” says Eckhardt. Police Tuesday night have not indicated
that anyone has been arrested.

Eckhardt says investigators have been questioning the mother and father of Tyler Dasher.

The original call to police from the mother was that the child may
have wandered out of the home. But Eckhardt says after police looked at
the home and the child’s crib, they concluded that Tyler Dasher could
not have walked out of the home on his own.

Anyone with additional information should call the St. Louis County
Police Department at 889 2341 or Crimestoppers at 866-371-TIPS.
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2011/11/15/saraa-alert-1-year-old-affton-boy-missing/

AFFTON, Mo. — Police have arrested the mother of a 1-year-old boy whose body was found in a cemetery near his suburban St. Louis home.



According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, jail officials confirmed that the mother of Tyler Dasher, 20-year-old Shelby A. Dasher, was being held Wednesday at the St. Louis County Justice Center.

A police source told the paper that authorities believe the woman
killed her son after she "became very, very angry." It was unclear what
triggered her rage.

Earlier, NBC affiliate station KSDK reported that a person was
escorted early Wednesday morning by investigators to the scene where the
boy's body was found, and then was transported to St. Louis County
Police Headquarters in Clayton, a suburb of St. Louis.

In addition, the station reported that seven family members were
interviewed late into the night Tuesday, but a Wednesday police
statement made no mention of whether the person arrested was a member of
Dasher's family.

In the statement, police said that the person had not been booked
into jail and that no further information would be released until the
prosecuting attorney reviews the investigation.

Mother says she overslept

Tyler Dasher was reported missing from his home about 10
miles southwest of St. Louis, around 11 a.m. Tuesday. His mother told
police she overslept that morning and discovered him gone from his crib
when she awoke.

The toddler's body was discovered Tuesday afternoon near a cemetery
about a mile from his home. The medical examiner who confirmed the
body's identity did not immediately determine the cause of death, county
police spokesman Rick Eckhard said on Tuesday.

St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch said at a news conference
earlier Tuesday that people walking a dog found the body around 3:30
p.m. about a mile from the home.

Tyler's mother and father, who live separately, had both been cooperating with police, Fitch said.

Tears for tot

A small cluster of young adults cried and hugged on Tuesday
as they watched from the cemetery. It wasn't clear if they were
relatives of Tyler, and they declined interview requests.

The body was within about 100 feet of a busy road.

"It says to me it's a pretty sick person," Fitch said. "Anybody that
would take a child and leave a child in a wooded area in that condition
needs to be dealt with severely by the criminal justice system."

Fitch declined to discuss the condition of the body.

Police immediately suspected foul play because it was unlikely a
13-month-old could get himself out of his crib and wander from his home.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45311719/ns/today-today_news/t/police-arrest-mother-death-missouri-tot/#.TsPbDFZnCEM

Prosecutors: Affton toddler died of blunt force trauma; mother charged

(KMOV) -- Officials announced in a news conference on Wednesday that the mother of a 1-year-old boy found dead in a wooded area in south St. Louis County on Tuesday was charged with second degree murder.

During the news conference, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch said that the victim, Tyler Dasher, died of blunt force trauma. When asked if it appeared if the mother and suspect, 20-year-old Shelby Dasher, got angry and lashed out at the child, McCulloch said that did appear to be true.

McCulloch also said that the medical examiner reported that there was no immediate evidence of previous child abuse in this case.

Multiple sources have confirmed to News 4 that Shelby Dasher has confessed to the beating death of her son, Tyler Dasher. She reportedly beat the child because she could not get him to stay quiet in his crib. She then dumped his body and returned home to sleep, waiting several hours later to report him missing.

According to McCulloch, Shelby Dasher was out for some period of time during the night and early morning hours before the baby was killed. During that time the grandmother was still asleep. He said that as far as he knew, Dasher carried her son to the wooded area where he was later found dead. However, he says it is not 100 percent clear if she drove or walked the baby to the dumping site.

McCulloch expressed his disappointment in the mother’s method of handling her frustration with the baby. “There are a myriad of ways to handle a child,” he said. “This isn’t one of them.”

Officials said once the child was reported missing, which was just before noon on Tuesday, one of the first investigators on the scene was someone experienced in child abuse. This person recognized that this case was not just one of a missing person. It was clear that there was more to the story than what had been reported at that time.

During the news conference, McCulloch acknowledged a strongly worded Facebook post that Dasher made prior to the murder saying that she needed to get away from Affton. He said that police do take evidence related to social media seriously, and that her last Facebook post will be taken into consideration as evidence.

Shelby Dasher is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond.

The investigation is ongoing

http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Police-search-for-missing-1-year-old-boy-from-Affton--133904913.html

FOX 2 Coverage On Beating Death Of Toddler
Video Vigile from tonight and story

http://www.fox2now.com/videogallery/66142554/News/FOX-2-Coverage-On-Beating-Death-Of-Toddler

St. Louis County Lt. Gary Guinn knew he wasn't dealing with a
normal missing child case within 10 minutes of arriving Tuesday at
the home of Shelby Dasher and her mother, Christine Dasher.

Christine Dasher was hysterical. Shelby Dasher, 20, was calm —
not the expected reaction from a woman who had just reported that
her 1-year-old son, Tyler, had vanished from his crib, Guinn said.

"I've been doing this for so long, you just get the feel for
what you're dealing with when you have that initial contact with
people," said the police veteran of 37 years. "And on this one, I
didn't get a good feel for the mother. … The story she initially
gave us was just bizarre, and her behavior was even worse. When you
put those two things together, within 10 minutes we knew."

Guinn also predicted Shelby Dasher would confess to the crime, said Chief Tim Fitch.
Ultimately, Guinn's gut was right.

Detectives say Shelby Dasher told them that when she couldn't
get Tyler to stay quiet in his crib, she repeatedly struck him on
the head and body, causing his death. She said she then hid Tyler's
body in bushes in a wooded area about a mile from her home near New
St. Marcus Cemetery, according to court documents.

The medical examiner determined Tyler died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Authorities would not say whether Tyler was still alive when his mother dumped his body.

Dasher was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder and held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch told reporters at a
press conference that officials are not aware of any prior acts of abuse of Tyler.

The second-degree murder charge represents a "hot-blooded
murder," as opposed to first-degree, which would be a "cold-blooded
murder" involving cool deliberation first, he said.

A RARE ACT

Guinn spent the first 21 years of his law enforcement career as
a St. Louis police officer. He worked as a child abuse detective
for 14 years in the city. He joined the county's child abuse unit
in 1995 and was promoted to a watch commander in the county's
Affton precinct about nine months ago.

He happened to be on duty when the call came in Tuesday from the
Dasher home, in the 7700 block of Clevedon Street.

Shelby Dasher told Guinn that she put the baby to bed at 6 p.m.
Monday and left about 10:30 p.m. to go out with some male friends.
Her mother was home with the child. Shelby Dasher said she got home
about 2:30 a.m. and checked on Tyler.

Christine Dasher left for work about 7:30 a.m. Shelby Dasher
told Guinn that she went to wake the baby at 11 a.m. because he had
been sleeping for so long. That's when she said she discovered the
child was missing and called police, Guinn said.

"No 1-year-old ever sleeps that long. It didn't make any sense,"
Guinn said. "She also told me that the child could walk but could
not get out of the crib by himself. There was no indication of
forced entry to the house."

That's when Guinn called in the reinforcements. Dozens of county
officers began to search the surrounding area, by helicopter, on
foot and on patrol. At about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, a man and a woman
walking their dogs along the cemetery just off River Des Peres
Boulevard discovered the child's body.

Guinn saw Tyler's body, but would not comment on it.
Guinn said he's investigated hundreds of child abuse cases in
his career, some fatal. That Shelby Dasher carried the child
through the woods before leaving him near the tree line is unusual.

"It's rare to see a person afterwards be as cold as she was to
carry this child off and throw him into the woods," he said.
"That's rare for somebody who has lost it and got frustrated with a
child and abused the child to see them take the body and abandon them."

Guinn was present when Dasher confessed. But he said it did say something of her character.
"I tell new people that if they have no conscience, they're not
going to tell us anything," Guinn said. "In this particular case,
she obviously had a conscience. Now, does it mean she's any less
cold? No. When you do that to your child, you are a sick person and
it's very cold blooded."

Guinn noted that several non-profit groups as well state agencies exist to help parents in crisis.
"These young parents get frustrated and I understand that as we
all do, but there is so much help out there," he said. "She could
have called Children's Services. The message needs to get out there
that there is options. It is so frustrating to see such a cute
little boy like that when there are so many people out there trying
to have children and something like this happens."

'STILL IN SHOCK'
Tyler's father, Joe Ellington, 23, lives in South County.
His parents, Johnny and Shirley Ellington, filed for
guardianship of their son in March. In court records, Joe Ellington
was listed as incapacitated-disabled.
Shirley Ellington answered the door Wednesday holding her hand
over a face red from tears, saying she was too upset to talk to a reporter.

"Not now," she said. "We're about to make funeral arrangements."

On Oct. 13, 2010, Shelby Dasher sought an order of protection
against Ellington in St. Louis County Circuit Court. She wrote that
on the day before, Ellington came into her home on Clevedon and
asked to use her cellphone.

"I asked him to leave and he didn't. He got mad (and) snapped my
cellphone. I asked him to leave again, he got madder and pushed me
to the ground and he left. I'm scared of him because he pushed me
to the ground. And I have a 2-week-old son in the house. And also
his mental health is unstable."

After a hearing on Oct. 25, a judge issued the order and told
Ellington to stay away from Dasher and not communicate with her,
but on Nov. 22, it was dismissed at Dasher's request.

Among the favorite shows listed on Shelby Dasher's Facebook page
are the MTV reality show "Teen Mom" and "First 48 Hours," an
apparent reference to the A&E documentary series "The First
48," which follows the initial hours of homicide investigations.

On Wednesday night, hundreds of people gathered for a
candlelight vigil at the wooded area along River Des Peres
Boulevard where Tyler's body was found.

Family friends and well-wishers placed dozens of stuffed animals
and balloons, signs and pictures of Tyler beneath a tree and
observed a moment of silence in the boy's honor. Many who attended
pushed small children in strollers or carried bundled-up toddlers
clutching blankets. A bagpiper played "Amazing Grace."

"This vigil here's not about anger and hate, this is a gathering
to respect this unfortunate event," said Wayne Scott II, one of the
organizers of the vigil who said a few words before those in
attendance. "We hope we can prevent these types of things from
happening in the future."

After the moment of silence, a small group walked through
crunching leaves to gather around the large shrub where the boy's
body was discovered.

"We came to support the baby," said Loretta Lebbing, 21, of
Affton, who knows a friend of Dasher. "It's just sad in general to
think that a child lost his life."
Dozens of Dasher's friends, including the men she had hung out
with hours before police say she killed her son, were standing
nearby at the family home on Tuesday as word of Tyler's disappearance spread.

Hayle Cacciatore, 18, said she had been friends with Shelby since high school.
"It's all a blur to me," she said. "I'm still in shock."
She said Tyler's first word was "duck" and that Shelby gave him
a rubber ducky that he always played with.
"He always used to laugh, he would never cry unless he needed a
bottle or to be changed," she said. "She was nice and a very
independent mother and did everything she could for him. I have no
idea what went wrong. I just wish she would have reached out."

So does Guinn.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/veteran-detective-had-immediate-suspicions-about-missing-st-louis-county/article_daf1c51a-996e-5e6e-a985-fd76d4262269.html#ixzz1dyFiw9RY

Baby Tyler Dasher’s mom admits to killing him, to be arraigned
Isabelle Zehnder
, Missing Persons Examiner
November 17, 2011

AFFTON, Missouri (Isabelle Zehnder reporting) –Affton Baby Tyler Dasher’s mother, Shelby Dasher, who is charged with second-degree murder of her son, will be arraigned in St. Louis Thursday morning with reports she’s on suicide watch.

After admitting she murdered her baby, 20-year-old Shelby was booked at the St. Louis County jail at 2 a.m. Wednesday on a 24-hour hold. She was being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, according to a St. Louis County Jail supervisor, KSDK.com reports.

A spokesperson for the jail told KSDK.com that Shelby is on suicide watch. She is being held on a cash-only $500,000 bond.

St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch said during a Wednesday news conference that 13-month-old Tyler died as a result of blunt-force trauma caused by multiple blows to his head. The medical examiner said it does not appear a weapon or object other than the mother’s hands were used to kill the baby. Read: Cause of MO baby’s death: Blunt force trauma; mom charged with 2nd-degree murder.


Continue reading on Examiner.com Baby Tyler Dasher’s mom admits to killing him, to be arraigned - National missing persons | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/missing-persons-in-national/baby-tyler-dasher-s-mom-admits-to-killing-him-to-be-arraigned#ixzz1e0EawQWw

Did anyone watch the video yesterday of the "mother" strolling with LE...I was shocked by how much she acting like KC...dressed up/cleaned up...seemingly not a care in the world...chatty and laughing...wth!

Judge enters not guilty plea for mom accused of murder

Posted: Nov 17, 2011 11:29 AM CST
Updated: Nov 17, 2011 11:31 AM CST

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) - A St. Louis County judge has entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Shelby Dasher, the young mother accused of killing her 13-month-old son because he wouldn't stop crying.

Dasher made a brief court appearance Thursday during which the judge also assigned the public defender's office to represent her.

Dasher was charged with second-degree murder on Wednesday, a day after she reported that her son, Tyler, was missing from his crib. The boy's body was found a few hours later in a field near the home in Affton where he lived with his mother and grandmother.

Prosecutors say Dasher confessed to striking the boy out of frustration.

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/16066226/judge-enters-not-guilty-plea-for-shelby-dasher

mermaid55 wrote:Judge enters not guilty plea for mom accused of murder

Posted: Nov 17, 2011 11:29 AM CST
Updated: Nov 17, 2011 11:31 AM CST

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) - A St. Louis County judge has entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Shelby Dasher, the young mother accused of killing her 13-month-old son because he wouldn't stop crying.

Dasher made a brief court appearance Thursday during which the judge also assigned the public defender's office to represent her.

Dasher was charged with second-degree murder on Wednesday, a day after she reported that her son, Tyler, was missing from his crib. The boy's body was found a few hours later in a field near the home in Affton where he lived with his mother and grandmother.

Prosecutors say Dasher confessed to striking the boy out of frustration.

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/16066226/judge-enters-not-guilty-plea-for-shelby-dasher

I can't NOT believe "mom" is only receiving 2nd degree?? The accounts I am reading she brutally beat this poor little boy...lots of trauma with double diget blows found...enough to eventually kill the baby...and, further police NOT sure the baby was dead (yet) when dumped ...goes back to bed, call bf to come eat breakfast, etc

Tyler Dasher funeral arrangements set
Funeral ceremonies for Tyler Dasher, the 13-month-old boy killed this week, will be held Monday morning at St. Mark Catholic Church, 8300 Morgan Ford Road in Affton, the family announced.

Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m., with the funeral to follow at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Lemay.

Donations to the Tyler Dasher Memorial Fund can be made at any U.S. Bank. Tyler's father's family said the money will be used to pay for a headstone, with any additional funds to be donated to the St. Louis Crisis Nursery and other organizations that provide support for mothers and children.



Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/funeral-arrangements-for-tyler-dasher-set/article_29b969a6-1191-11e1-927c-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1e7vtTw1E

St. Louis County dispatchers swamped after TV show focuses on Tyler Dasher case
*OP comment..ooppsss *****


UPDATED 4 p.m. with comment from Nancy Grace spokeswoman.

CLAYTON • St. Louis County police dispatchers were inundated with more than 200 phone calls in a half hour Thursday night after the nationally televised "Nancy Grace" show told viewers to call and voice their opinions about the Tyler Dasher homicide case.

"Let your voice be heard. On behalf of this 13-month-old baby boy," host Nancy Grace told viewers, displeased that Tyler's mother was facing a "light" second-degree murder charge instead of first-degree murder.

The show airs weeknights on HLN at 7 p.m.

Grace gave the office number for St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert P. McCulloch, who charged Shelby Dasher, 20, with second-degree murder on Wednesday in the death of 13-month-old Tyler the day before. Authorities say Dasher confessed to beating her son when he wouldn't let her sleep. The Affton woman is jailed on $500,000 bail.

The second-degree murder charge represents a "hot-blooded murder," as opposed to first-degree, which would be a "cold-blooded murder" involving cool deliberation first, McCulloch said.

After normal business hours, when the show aired, the number for the prosecutor would have gone to an automated system that doesn't take messages, according to McCulloch's office.

But Grace also gave a number for St. Louis County police, and scores of people dialed that number to give their opinions on the case.

St. Louis County Police Officer Rick Eckhard said the police communications center received 202 calls in half an hour, about 150 more than usual. Six call takers and supervisors were answering the phone.

Many of the callers — 63, according to Eckhard — hung up after hearing a police dispatcher answer. The rest of the calls, 139, led to only a brief conversation once the dispatcher answered.

"There was no prolonged conversation," Eckhard said. "And no lines were tied up."

Eckhard said the number is a non-emergency line, and the increase in calls didn't clog the system or leave anyone without emergency help. The 911 system is separate, and dispatchers answer that line first, Eckhard said.

"I know of no one who did not receive emergency service because of this," he added.

Still, the incident left police officials scratching their heads about why their number was posted.

An HLN spokeswoman defended Grace's decision to air the police department's telephone number.

"Nancy Grace, strident voice for victims, felt the charges in this case did not fit the crime and created a community dialogue in St. Louis by including the local law enforcement who investigated the case and have always been the first and most important advocates for victims of violence," the spokeswoman wrote in an email to the Post-Dispatch. "Given the response by her audience, her call to action for Tyler resonated with many Americans."

Here's some of what Grace had to say to viewers, according to a transcript of the show:

Mommy admits she beats her baby to death when it wouldn't go back to sleep. She's tired after a night of partying until 2:30 a.m. This baby found brutally beaten to death. His body dumped in a local graveyard....

Only when cops confront her with inconsistencies in her story does mommy break down and tell the truth. According to our medical examiner, it took double-digit blows to kill this 13-month-old baby boy, now an angel.

If you disagree with a light charge like murder two, as I do, here's the numbers. The local district attorney, Bob McCulloch, St. Louis County prosecutor. 314-615-2600. Repeat. 314-615-2600. Local cops, 314-889-2341.

Let your voice be heard. On behalf of this 13-month-old baby boy.

Meanwhile, McCulloch's office was getting calls Friday morning from people out of state voicing their opinions on the charge.



Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/st-louis-county-dispatchers-swamped-after-tv-show-focuses-on/article_280d1b10-1205-11e1-a464-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1e7x7iHEF

Slain infant’s father speaks out about son’s death

KMOV.com
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 7:50 PM

ST. LOUIS (KMOV) – When Tyler Dasher’s mother first reported him missing, some suspicion fell on the father, Joe Ellington, who had a limited role in the baby’s life.

News 4’s Russell Kinsaul spoke with Ellington on Thursday and said he wanted to set the record straight about his role in Tyler’s life and about his mental health.

Ellington said that he tried to play an active role in Tyler’s life. Although he and Shelby Dasher never married, he spoke of happy times when all three were together. He also said that the mug shot of Shelby did not look like the person he’d loved. And he was shocked to hear of Tyler’s death.

Ellington said he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, but it is under control, thanks to medication. He also said that Tyler’s funeral will be held Monday. Details are still being worked out. A Tyler Dasher memorial fund has been set up and contributions can be made at any US Bank.

Video at:http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Slain-infants-father-speaks-out-about-sons-death-134089678.html

Mother accused of killing baby boy goes before judge with no attorney

(KMOV) -- The mother accused of beating her one-year-old baby to death went before a judge in Clayton Thursday morning.



Shelby Dasher, 20, has been charged with second-degree murder. She was in a tan jail jumpsuit, wearing handcuffs and leg shackles.



The judge asked her if she had an attorney and she shook her head, "no." The judge asked if she had money for an attorney an she shook her head"no." She was told an attorney would be appointed for her and referred her to the public defender's office.



Dasher's next court appearance is set for January 5th, 2012.



News 4 reporter Mark Schnyder was at the hearing and said Dasher did not appear to be happy or sad... almost indifferent to what was going on. She looked like she could have been up there contesting a parking ticket if you weren't aware of how serious the charges against her really are.

None of Dasher's friends or family we've talked to or seen in the past couple of days appeared in the gallery during the brief court appearance.
video: http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Mother-accused-of-killing-1-year-old-appears-in-court-134036823.html

Affton mom's boyfriend says there were no warning signs
Edgar Rivas says Shelby Dasher always patient with her son

By Kathleen Berger

Affton, MO (KSDK) - The boyfriend of accused child killer Shelby Dasher says reports of Dasher partying the late night hours before she killed Tyler are not true.

Edgar Rivas, 24, says Dasher was with him at his house with a couple of friends. He says Dasher was not a partier. He says he's never seen Dasher never doing drugs or drinking alcohol. Not that night and not any night.

Rivas says the night before Dasher beat 13-month old Tyler to death- they listened to music, played video games, and watched TV. He says Dasher left his place around 2:30 a.m.

"She had nothing to drink. Nothing. No drugs, no alcohol, nothing. Just hanging out," said Rivas.
Edgar Rivas says that's just Shelby. Rivas says what's not like Shelby Dasher is losing control with Tyler.
Police say Dasher admitted to beating 13-month-old Tyler to death because he would not stop crying and go back to sleep.

Rivas says that's not like her. He describes how patient Dasher was during Tyler's worst crying fits, such as when he was teething. He describes a devoted mother who showed no major signs of frustration.

"When she'd feed him and he's throwing his food, she'd take a deep breath," said Rivas.

Rivas says he never saw warning signs because he says there were none. Rivas said Tyler was loved, by him too.

"It's hard to look at his picture, and look into those blue eyes, and not be able to see him. Not see see him smile, laugh, tumble when he tries to walk. It just hurts," said Rivas.

What hurts is everything that happened the morning Tyler was discovered dead. All starting with a text from Shelby Dasher after 10 a.m.

"She texted me in the morning, saying. 'Good morning. What are you guys doing?'" said Rivas.

Then he called her.

"She did mention to me: Tyler's still sleeping. When she told me that, I thought it was unusual because Tyler would have been up already, said Rivas. "After she mentioned that he was still sleeping, she was like, "Well, I'm going to cook breakfast. Would you like to come over for breakfast?"

So Rivas left his house for Dasher's. And when he got there, Rivas said he would check on Tyler. Rivas says Dasher told him not to, that she would do it.

"That's when she came outside screaming, 'Where's my baby, where's my baby,'" said Rivas.

Rivas said he searched frantically before calling 911.

"That's when I broke down and told the dispatcher, 'Hold on, let me get a second to myself to get myself together,'" said Rivas.

Rivas was taken to police headquarters for questioning, and never learned about what happened to Tyler, never learned that Dasher was charged with 2nd degree murder, until he was watching the news after police released him the next day.

Rivas says he wants to see Dasher now. He wants answers.

"Why? Why did you do this? What made this so different from any other day? There's just a lot of questions that haven't been answered," he said.

One thing that moved Rivas to tears: Rivas says when Dasher invited him over that morning, he walked. He says he cut through the cemetery, apparently walking right by Tyler's body, and says he never even knew it.

Tyler's body was later found by people walking dogs.

Video:http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/286535/3/Accused-child-killers-boyfriend-speaks-out

I have one possibility as to the question why that Rivas keeps asking.
Children are very demanding and a mother needs to get a decent nights sleep. Staying up til 2.30am playing games and expecting to be on your game when your child wakes up 4 hours later is just plain dumb. I think she was over-tired and lost her rag completely. So Mom's out there if you're reading - get enough sleep!!!!! Your child comes first!!!!

Hey Kiwi...the 20 minute I posted upstream re: Rivas...broke my heart when he broke down talking about undeknownst to him he walked right by the baby in the cemetary! Another tragic and senseless death of another innocent.

Tyler Dasher's clothing, crib to be donated

note and several stuffed animals were left beneath a tree next to New St. Marcus Cemetary on Wednesday, November 16, 2011, near where the body of Tyler Dasher, 1, was found on Tuesday. Photo by Johnny Andrews, jandrews@post-dispatch.com

AFFTON • Christine Dasher looked at the bottles, formula, diapers, crib, clothing, toys and other things that belonged to her 1-year-old grandson, Tyler, and wondered what to do with them now that he was gone.

Dasher's daughter, Shelby Dasher, 20, admitted to police that she had beaten Tyler to death Tuesday. Since then, some public attention has been focused on services that are available from the St. Louis Crisis Nursery for overwhelmed parents.

"When I saw them on the news, I thought, 'That's who we're going to deal with right there,'" said Christine Dasher, whose daughter and grandson lived with her in the Affton area. "If I can give back in any way I can, then I'm going to do so through the Crisis Nursery."

Tyler's family and their friends started a memorial fund at U.S. Bank to raise money for a headstone. Someone has since donated one, so money raised now will be donated to the Crisis Nursery and other agencies that support mothers and babies, said Shirley Ellington, Tyler's paternal grandmother.

News of the donations from the grieving grandmothers touched the nonprofit's executive director, DiAnne Mueller.

"Hopefully, it will bring some peace to that extended family who are in such a horrible situation to know that other children are going to be a little happier because they are so thoughtful," Mueller said. "In their incredible grief, the fact that they are able to do something so thoughtful is amazing to me."

SEEING A NEED

The Junior League of St. Louis and the Coalition of 100 Black Women partnered 25 years ago to form the Crisis Nursery. It opened with seven beds in the former Forest Park Hospital, serving children up to 6 years old.

Now, the nonprofit works with SSM Healthcare and has five nurseries across the region, plus six outreach centers where social workers offer referrals and parenting classes. The age limit has been raised to 12.

The nurseries can serve 47 children, who usually are back out within 48 hours, Mueller said. About 60 percent of calls turn into admissions. The rest are from people who just need to talk.

"Sometimes it's in the middle of the night and they're at their wit's end with no friends or family to call, and we talk them through what's going on," Mueller said. Professionals assess whether police intervention is needed.

"In the course of a 10-minute call, they can go from being completely despondent and hopeless to, 'OK, we're going to get through this. Things will get better and I can be a good parent,'" Mueller noted.

The center has specific criteria to accept children. "There has to be a crisis; we're not a day-care center," Mueller said. "And there is nobody in their world, their neighborhoods or support systems that will help them." For those who qualify, the center will send a taxi, if necessary.

Homelessness or hospitalizations of parents sometimes send children for care, Mueller said. "But the No. 1 reason is overwhelming parental stress, and they're at a breaking point." Shelby Dasher told St. Louis County police that she repeatedly struck Tyler on the head and body after she could not get him to stay quiet in his crib, according to court documents. Authorities say she hid his body in the bushes near New St. Marcus Cemetery, not far from home, and called police to report him missing. A massive search followed, until passers-by found the body.

NURSERY LIFE

Children arriving at a Crisis Nursery are fed, bathed, given a physical exam and provided any medications required. They also get to choose a bed and pajamas. "What's surprising is that many of these kids have never worn pajamas," Mueller said.

A somber mood hung over staff members and volunteers when a reporter visited one of the nurseries Friday. Some whispered about Tyler, shaking their heads in disbelief.

"It makes us remember why we're here," said Lisa Bicket, the program director. "Every time that phone rings, it reminds you of the severity of those situations."

Volunteer Mildred Newton, 79, smiled at children dressed up in Snow White and Superman costumes. Newton has volunteered four days a week for nearly five years, taking a bus to get there. She has no children of her own but loves being "grandma" to babies she holds and feeds.

Tyler was on her mind, too. "It's such a shame," said Newton, who wondered if Shelby Dasher "ever knew about this place."

The Crisis Nursery regularly distributes fliers and posters in Laundromats, cash-checking centers, food pantries and clinics, trying to reach low-income families that Mueller said are at the highest risk for child abuse.

The organization also goes door-to-door in some neighborhoods, leaving information and perhaps diapers, food and other supplies to families in need. It makes an extra effort in areas hit by an incident like Tyler's death.

"It's our way of having some kind of response to the tragedy that's occurred and being available to the community members who are most touched by situations like this," Mueller explained.

On Monday, a group will assemble at St. Mark's Catholic Church, 8300 Morganford Road, before fanning out with pamphlets and supplies. About an hour later, mourners will file into the same church for Tyler's funeral.



Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/tyler-dasher-s-clothing-crib-to-be-donated/article_8260342f-ed51-5a9b-924b-8feab6c2228a.html#ixzz1eJfvzaYx

kiwimom wrote:I have one possibility as to the question why that Rivas keeps asking.
Children are very demanding and a mother needs to get a decent nights sleep. Staying up til 2.30am playing games and expecting to be on your game when your child wakes up 4 hours later is just plain dumb. I think she was over-tired and lost her rag completely. So Mom's out there if you're reading - get enough sleep!!!!! Your child comes first!!!!

Also, Shelby lived with her mother so why in the world didn't she just wake her mom up and tell her she couldn't take the baby crying anymore. I'm sure the mother would have gladly taken care of Tyler. I guess the grandmother didn't hear the him screaming and crying or she probably would have intervened.

OP Comment: This is heart breaking! So wanted to warn you in case you don't want to watch, especially today :((( ...such a little casket and the two men were so gentle lifting into the back of the hearse. Another life gone too soon.

Funeral for murdered Affton toddler Tyler Dasher

Affton, MO (KSDK) - Tyler Dasher, the Affton toddler who was murdered last week and found dumped in a wooded area, less than a mile from his home, was laid to rest Monday.

The visitation and funeral for the 13-month-old took place at St. Mark Parish in south St. Louis County.

Tyler's mother, 20-year-old Shelby Dasher, is in jail, charged with second-degree murder. Police say Dasher confessed to repeatedly hitting Tyler because he would not stop crying and go back to bed.

Detectives said she dumped Tyler's body near St. Marcus Cemetery.

Dasher appeared in court on Thursday. She was assigned a public defender and the judge, submitted a not guilty plea on her behalf.

Meanwhile, a memorial fund in Tyler's name has been established at any U.S

Video at : http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/286910/3/Funeral-for-murdered-Affton-toddler-Tyler-Dasher

Saint Louis - Missouri Police say Shelby Dasher was arrested less than 16 hours after she reported her 13-month-old son missing. The child's tiny body was found near a cemetery about a mile from his home.

The mother now being held on $500,000 cash bond, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of her 13-month-old son Tyler Dasher. Relatives and neighbors describe the child as a wonderful baby and a beautiful boy.
The New York Daily News reports that when 21-year-old Shelby Dasher called police in the morning to report to them that her son was missing, she told them that she'd been out late, then overslept and when she went to find him he was gone from his crib. But it wasn't long before people in the neighborhood walking their dog found Tyler's body on a busy road near a cemetery about a mile from the Tyler home.
St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch says once she was taken into custody, Shelby Dasher admitted that she repeatedly hit her son because he was crying and "wouldn't lay down, wouldn't go back to sleep." He said she also told police she had disposed of her son's body. McCullough responds to the crime,

"Raising children can be frustrating. There are a myriad of ways to handle that. This isn't one of them."

The Huffington Post reports that police say Dasher lived in a small frame home in a working-class neighborhood of Affton, Missouri with her mother and the child. She and the child's father live apart.
A long, wide area near the cemetery where Tyler's body was found was cordoned off by police. A cluster of young adults gathered nearby crying and hugging as they watched officers mill around the scene.
Neighbors describe the area where the Dashers live as quiet. But several said they knew little about Dasher or her son because the family had only moved into their rented home a little over a year ago.
Neighbor Rick Angeles lives across the street with his wife and 3-year old son.

"Everybody here kind of knows each other, but not them."

He said he used to see a lot of young people going in and out of the Dasher home frequently, but never saw anything there that concerned him.


Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/315687#ixzz1frSOMw2X

FENTON • Tears filled Amy Massey's eyes today
as she looked at a picture of her nephew, Tyler Dasher, staring
into the face of a chimpanzee at the St. Louis Zoo.

"They had a stare-off for at least 20 minutes," she recalled
during a fundraiser inside MaggieMoo's Ice Cream and Treatery. The
funds will be used to buy a memorial for Tyler at the zoo.

In his 13 months of life, Tyler had been too the zoo seven
times. Everytime they went, the Monkey House was a must, Massey said.

Tyler Dasher's mother, Shelby Dasher, 20, was charged with
second-degree murder last month after Tyler's body was found in a
wooded area near the River Des Peres. She had reported the child
missing, but later told police that she beat the child because he
would not stop crying in his crib on Nov. 15.

Massey's son works at the ice cream shop, whose manager, Lara
Crail, decided to donate a portion of the store's proceeds towards
the purchase of a memorial at the zoo. Bricks at the St. Louis Zoo
start at $500. Benches are $10,000.

"I knew the family wanted to get a memorial for him at the zoo,
but it costs too much, and they don't have time to (raise the
money)," Crail said. "Everybody knew the story and there has been
nothing positive for the family to look forward to."

Pink and green balloons floated in the ice cream shop and a
flier with a picture of Tyler smiling from his stroller sat on each
table. Other pictures of Tyler hung from a poster board nearby.

In one, chocolate cake and white frosting covered his face and
along with a bib that read, "Onederful."

The fundraiser will run until 11 p.m. tonight at both locations:
8853 Ladue Road in Ladue and 699 Gravois Bluffs Boulevard in
Fenton. The stores are also accepting donations.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/fundraiser-for-murdered-st-louis-county-toddler-at-ice-cream/article_48bb0974-2805-11e1-9805-0019bb30f31a.html#ixzz1glFONqY2

Shelby Dasher is due in court today after several months of no new
updates in this sad and gruesome case. The Missouri mother was
reportedly inspired by the disappearance of baby Lisa Irwin when she
reported her child missing. However, baby Tyler Dasher was already dead
and discarded, allegedly by her own hands. What will happen in court
today?
Shelby
Dasher will begin a preliminary hearing this morning in Missouri at
around 10:00 a.m. The young mother confessed to beating her son to death
and purposely misleading investigators in what was a very brief
investigation. One-year-old Tyler Dasher was beaten to death with
Shelby's bare hands because he wouldn't shut up and go to sleep.
After
Shelby beat her own baby to death, she carried him to a nearby cemetery
and discarded his body in the brush. Later that morning, presumably
after she got her much-needed sleep, she reported the child missing and
gave the same exact details as given by Deborah Bradley and Jeremy Irwin
when baby Lisa Irwin vanished.
http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981081870