VIENNA PARKER - 10 yo (9/2011) - St Johns/ Lansing MI

The mother of a 10-year-old girl found dead in her mid-Michigan home has been charged with second-degree child abuse.
Kathleen Parker was arraigned Monday in Clinton County District Court in St. Johns, about 20 miles north of Lansing.
The body of her daughter, Vienna Parker, was found in their St.
Johns' home in September. Kathleen Parker was home when child welfare
workers arrived to investigate why the girl hadn't been at school.
Vienna had been dead about two weeks.
Authorities were told Vienna was ill and suffered from diabetes.
Kathleen Parker was jailed Monday on a $1,000 bond. A preliminary examination was set for March 29.
The Associated Press left a message Monday afternoon seeking comment from her court-appointed attorney.

http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/MOTHER_CHARGED_FOR_MURDER_AFTER_KILLING_HER_DAUGHTER_143446046.html

St. Johns Girl Found Dead in Home
Police have identified her as 10-year-old Vienna Parker.

Posted: 7:20 AM Sep 23, 2011
Updated: 2:47 PM Sep 26, 2011

Police is St. Johns are investigating the death of a fourth grade student who attended Gateway North Elementary School.

Police say 10-year-old Vienna Parker was found dead in her home Thursday afternoon and that her body was badly decomposed.

The girl's mother, Kathleen Parker, was also found in the home and underwent surgery at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing Thursday night.

St. Johns police officers arrived at an apartment in the 400 block of E. Higham around 3:45 p.m. Thursday after Children's Protective Services officials called for help on a welfare check.

According to police, CPS officers thought the Parkers were inside the apartment but not coming to the door. Police say the landlord let officers into the apartment, where they found the body of Vienna Parker.

Officers also found Kathleen Parker, 47, inside. Police say she had suffered multiple cuts and a stab wound to the abdomen. Officers believe the wounds were self-inflicted.

Police say they will question the girl's mother Friday.

Kathleen Parker had last been seen Sept. 7 as part of a welfare check on Vienna, who had missed the first two days of the school year. Police say at that time Parker told authorities that her daughter was ill, suffering from diabetes.

The principal of Gateway North tells News 10 Vienna Parker had health problems. She was new to the school district.

The police chief tells News 10 they are trying to figure out if the girl died of natural causes and the mother just couldn't let go of her body, or if the mother was somehow involved in her child's death.

Grief counselors will be at Gateway North Elementary Friday to help students cope with the loss of their classmate.

The school sent a letter home with students Thursday telling parents a tragedy had occurred.

Stay with News 10 and wilx.com for more details as they become available.

http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/St_Johns_Girl_Found_Dead_in_Home_130411753.html

Father Of Young Girl Found Dead Speaks Out

Posted: Oct 03, 2011 11:08 AM CDT
Updated: Oct 5, 2011 09:54 PM EDT

Friends and family came together Wednesday evening to remember a young girl from St. Johns. In late September police and child protective workers found 10-year-old Vienna Parker dead in her home.

A preliminary autopsy showed no sign of trauma or foul play. Investigators say Parker's mother was found in a nearby bedroom with several self-inflicted wounds.

6 News spoke with Vienna Parker's father. He says she'd been missing for more than a year when he heard the news.

For 14 months Martin Parker looked for his little girl who was taken away from her Florida home by her mother.

"We've had very little contact and very little information," said Parker.

That is until St. Johns police called him about a week ago and told him his little girl was found dead in her Michigan home.

"I always wanted to take her home but not in an urn," said Parker.

On a sunny afternoon in St. Johns, Parker is left looking for answers.

"From what little I know about it was such an unnecessary death. Such a waste of a beautiful life ya know, it's really hard to come to terms with," said Parker.

As friends and family sign his daughter's casket, Parker wishes she'd had more time to grow up. @

"Ya start thinking about prom dates and getting married and ya know," said Parker.

Instead of looking forward he's left reflecting on the joy she brought to his life.

"She loved going to the beach and she loved animals, especially horses," said Parker, "people may think it's a little bit odd that I'm wearing a yellow tie but black just wasn't Vienna's color. Yellow was her favorite color and it represents the sunshine in my sky that she was," said Parker.

Wednesday as Vienna's classmates held dozens of balloons in the air the sun watched and smiled as they let go.

St. Johns police are still awaiting toxicology results for Vienna Parker. At this point no charges have been filed against her mother, Kathleen Parker.

http://www.wlns.com/story/15603928/memorial-service-set-for-st-johns-girl-found-dead-at-her-home?clienttype=printable