Mother to face charges in 1-year-old's drowning

**VAS1326** · March 3rd, 2012, 02:01 PM

A Westland woman has been ordered bound over for trial on felony charges over the death of her 1-year-old son, who drowned while unattended in the bathtub.

Amanda Yarimian, 24, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse-failure to protect in the death of Brandon Yarimian, who was a week past his first birthday when he died on Oct. 17, 2010.

Yarimian's husband, Deelon, was the only witness to testify at the preliminary examination Friday before 18th District Court Judge Mark McConnell. Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Lora Weingarden said she wanted to preserve a record of Deelon Yarimian's testimony as his wife planned to waive her preliminary examination.

In his testimony and original statement to police, Deelon Yarimian described his wife having worked a full shift, come home for about three hours and then going back to work for several more hours on Oct. 16. He had cared for Brandon and the couple's 3-year-old daughter on that day.

When Amanda Yarimian returned home from the second half of her split shift, it was 7-8 p.m., her husband testified. Deelon Yarimian then went out for a couple of hours to visit a friend and his mother.

When he left the house, Deelon Yarimian testified that his wife had both children in the bathtub giving them a bath. Upon his return, Deelon Yarimian said his wife and daughter were in the couple's bed sleeping while Brandon was on the floor.

“He was laying on the floor in the middle of the hallway. He was face up. We usually let him do what he wants after his bath,” Deelon Yarimian said. “I was trying to fix a virus on the computer. I had my eye on him. Approximately half an hour later, he was in the same position. That was highly unusual.”

At that point, Deelon Yarimian said he checked Brandon, who was naked, finding that the child was rigid. As he tried to perform CPR, he said he called 9-1-1.

Weingarden and defense attorney David Lankford both questioned Deelon Yarimian about whether there was water in the bathtub when he came home. His original statement to police was that there was water in the tub as he found his son.

“I really don't know. I went over this a million times in my head. Anyone would second-guess themselves,” said Deelon Yarimian, who testified that his daughter was able to get out of the bathtub without assistance but Brandon could not.

When he awakened his wife, Deelon Yarimian said she was distraught and didn't understand the questions he was asking her about what happened.

“She told me she fell asleep giving the kids a bath,” he said.

Paramedics and police reported that the child was unclothed and still wet when they arrived at the Yarimian home on Ackley.

The warrant request seeking charges against Amanda Yarimian had been pending at the prosecutor's office since late 2010. Amanda Yarimian, who has entered a not guilty plea, is scheduled for circuit court arraignment on March 8. She remains free on $50,000 personal bond.

Also on March, the couple are scheduled for a Child Protective Services hearing to determine if they will get custody of their 3-year-old daughter.

http://www.hometownlife.com/article/...oyal%20Oak%7Cs

The mother in this story is a friend of a girl I know. I read the article and some things don't add up with the dad's story. First he says the baby could not get out of the tub on his own. He claims the mom fell asleep and the baby accidently drowned but the 3 year old (who is now 4) could climb out of the tub on her own but the baby could not. So how in the Hell did the child end up on the floor in the hallway? Second; what kind of parent see's a naked one year old on the floor and not bother to diaper him? He spent an hour on the computer before checking on his son. The thing that really gets me is if the child was on the floor prior to dad being gone (a few hours) and mom was bathing them when he left and at least an hour went by after dad got home why was the child still wet when paramedics arrived. I don't know what really happened but dad's story isn't adding up to me. I'm not saying mom wasn't negligent and I don't know if she fell asleep with the babies in the tub but dad's story is hokey. I would think if his statements were true wouldn't he have found his son in the tub? What do you guys think?

**tmdgirl** · March 3rd, 2012, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by VAS1326

http://www.hometownlife.com/article/...oyal%20Oak%7Cs

The mother in this story is a friend of a girl I know. I read the article and some things don't add up with the dad's story. First he says the baby could not get out of the tub on his own. He claims the mom fell asleep and the baby accidently drowned but the 3 year old (who is now 4) could climb out of the tub on her own but the baby could not. So how in the Hell did the child end up on the floor in the hallway? Second; what kind of parent see's a naked one year old on the floor and not bother to diaper him? He spent an hour on the computer before checking on his son. The thing that really gets me is if the child was on the floor prior to dad being gone (a few hours) and mom was bathing them when he left and at least an hour went by after dad got home why was the child still wet when paramedics arrived. I don't know what really happened but dad's story isn't adding up to me. I'm not saying mom wasn't negligent and I don't know if she fell asleep with the babies in the tub but dad's story is hokey. I would think if his statements were true wouldn't he have found his son in the tub? What do you guys think?

I tend to agree with you on this one. There are just way too many holes in the Dad's story to make sense. If I were the cops, I'd be taking a closer look at him.

**plainbelliedsneetch** · March 3rd, 2012, 07:46 PM

I can't think of any parent I know who would glance at their naked, wet toddler lying in the hallway and shrug it off.

Even her work schedule makes no sense to me. First the dad says she worked a full shift (eight hours), came home for a few hours and went back for a partial shift (which sounds odd to me). Then the article says she had a split shift, meaning two four-hour shifts with a few hours in between.

**VAS1326** · March 3rd, 2012, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by tmdgirl

I tend to agree with you on this one. There are just way too many holes in the Dad's story to make sense. If I were the cops, I'd be taking a closer look at him.

Dad's story is hokey for sure. Though after talking with the friend more here is what I found out....The mother admits to falling asleep with the kids in the tub. The friend says dad lied about being home only a half hour but was home two hours before checking on him supposidly on the floor. According to her he did put a diaper on the child before starting CPR (that doesn't make much sense either) The friend feels the father is at fault for leaving the house knowing his wife was tired. Then later she goes onto to say that the husband had killed the baby (I'm trying to get her to tell my why she thinks that) Also she has stated that the husband has tried to kill the wife twice (so WTF is she with him) I'm not going to retype what I posted to the friend but here are my thoughts copied from our discussion. I think mom and dad both have explaining to do. I don't believe either one has told the whole story.

This is what I wrote to her which are my new thoughts on the matter:

The fact of the matter is your friend admits to falling asleep. From the article it says she was in bed when her husband came home. Is that true? If so that is neglect. Who puts their young children in a bath and goes to bed? It’s not like she fell asleep next to the bath tub. The other thing is this. I believe the dad moved the body. It is far more likely he found the boy in the bath tub. He was still wet when EMS came. The human body releases heat after death during the lividity stage and it would not hamper the child from drying off if he was laying there over an hour. Second; the father said the child was rigid. This indicates rigor had set in which typically takes place 3-6 hours after death. So if the dad was gone 2 or so hours then it doesn’t matter if he was home 1/2 hour or 2 hours before finding the child. The child most likely died while dad was still out of the home. I’m sure they were able to pin point a time of death much better at autopsy and I’m assuming that since your friend is going on trial they determined he died prior to the dad getting home. If dad did something to the child he wouldn’t have had time to be in the rigor stage. At best early rigor but the medical examiner probably already has that figured out and since dad’s not on trial looks like it was determined he was deceased for some time. She may not have hurt him on purpose or directly but his death was a direct result of her neglect (going to bed with him in the tub) She more or less according to you says she knows she shouldn’t have went to sleep which means she admits she went to bed with him in the tub. How is that not her fault? Now I don’t understand how the boy ended up on the floor. He couldn’t get out himself (and if he did he would be alive today). My best guess is dad did find him in the tub and moved him. I just cannot understand why he would lie about that.

**VAS1326** · March 3rd, 2012, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by plainbelliedsneetch

I can't think of any parent I know who would glance at their naked, wet toddler lying in the hallway and shrug it off.

Even her work schedule makes no sense to me. First the dad says she worked a full shift (eight hours), came home for a few hours and went back for a partial shift (which sounds odd to me). Then the article says she had a split shift, meaning two four-hour shifts with a few hours in between.

I agree...read my post above....I think that he found him in the tub and moved him. There is no other explaination for the child still being wet and if mom was sleeping and dad didn't move him how the Hell did he end up on the floor? And even if you let your child pass out wherever they fall (some people do) wouldn't it seem weird that he was naked and wet? And then after a half hour (or two if you believe the friend of the mother) he is still very wet when EMT's come. That doesn't add up.

**Silvahalo** · March 4th, 2012, 12:21 AM

Amanda Yarimian - Brandon Yarimian

I was looking for pictures and found these. She looks more inconvenienced than upset.

The father's story is questionable for the reasons already mentioned. I think baby was dead in the tub when he was found by his father. WHY wouldn't he just call 911 at that time?
Neglect all the way around. Sad and so very tragic for the children involved.
Brandon lost everything and his sister must feel like she did to.

Rest in peace baby Brandon Yarimian.

**VAS1326** · March 4th, 2012, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by Silvahalo

Amanda Yarimian - Brandon Yarimian

I was looking for pictures and found these. She looks more inconvenienced than upset.

The father's story is questionable for the reasons already mentioned. I think baby was dead in the tub when he was found by his father. WHY wouldn't he just call 911 at that time?
Neglect all the way around. Sad and so very tragic for the children involved.
Brandon lost everything and his sister must feel like she did to.

Rest in peace baby Brandon Yarimian.

How do you attach a picture? I would have done so with my original post if I known how.

I agree. Something isn't right about the whole thing. The whole story makes no sense. It is tragic for the children involved. I believe the family lost custody of the little girl already (the article is a few weeks old) and I'm praying she is placed in a safe loving enviroment to get her through this time. I also agree the mom looks inconvienced. She is trying to convince everyone that her husband killed the boy. I'm not sure if I buy it. I mean I have no way of knowing but I can believe he drowned while she was sleeping. I still think dad isn't telling the whole truth but can't figure out why he is lying unless he is trying to help her get a lesser charge (making it an accident instead of murder) but then why would she be accusing him of murdering the child himself. I don't know the whole thing is just fucked up.

**Nell** · March 4th, 2012, 12:45 AM

To attach a picture you save a copy to your computer, then go to an image hosting site like tinypic.com and upload it. Then you copy the line of code for forums. Copy paste that in a post here.

Ta-DA!

**tmdgirl** · March 4th, 2012, 05:03 PM

Deelon Yarimian testified that his wife had both children in the bathtub giving them a bath. Upon his return, Deelon Yarimian said his wife and daughter were in the couple's bed sleeping while Brandon was on the floor.

This bothers me from his testimony. If the girl was in bed sleeping with the wife, it would stand to reason that either the girl got herself out of the tub, dried off and got into bed or the wife took her out and dried her off and put her in bed. So how does a little boy that can't get out of the tub himself end up in the middle of the hall, wet and naked...and the father leaves him there for at least half an hour to a couple hours.

Even if the father thought the child was sleeping, why wouldn't he think to put a diaper on him? At that age, the little guy for sure would have had an accident on the floor without a diaper on. And if he was still wet when the paramedics got there, there is no way in hell he was on the floor for the time the father says he was.

Normal rigor mortis occurs within 3-6 hours of death. If the child was in any stage of rigor, the father's timeline of events is way off too. I'd be curious if there is a possibility that he found the boy in the tub and left him there until he placed the call to 911. I'm not saying he had anything to do with the death, but if it was obvious the child was already dead, could he have panicked and delayed the call?

This might explain the presence of any rigor and the fact the body was wet so long after he says he was in the hallway.

**VAS1326** · March 5th, 2012, 10:00 PM

Ok I've decided that the friend who is a supporter of the mother and is relaying that side of the story is as full of shit as the father. Neither of them have a story that makes sense. I think it this case it will be interesting to see what else they got on her since the word of her husband cannot be all the proof they have. I think both are lying. It's going to come down to the facts presented in this case. I'm not going to bother posting what the friend is saying what really happened because that story has as many holes as the fathers and since they arrested and are charging her they have to have some other evidence to prove what happened. My problem with the mother's story (as told by her friend and not to me directly) is that it just doesn't make sense either. I'm really anticipating seeing what the State presents at trial.

**ineedanap** · March 5th, 2012, 11:13 PM

I agree, the father's story doesn't seem to add up. I will add, IMO, that the last name leads me to believe that the culture these kids are being raised in, isn't a typical American culture. Perhaps the wife had wifely duties (solely caring for kids, etc), and failed? I don't know, but there's a dead kid here, and someone should be accountable.

**VAS1326** · March 6th, 2012, 03:40 AM

Originally Posted by ineedanap

I agree, the father's story doesn't seem to add up. I will add, IMO, that the last name leads me to believe that the culture these kids are being raised in, isn't a typical American culture. Perhaps the wife had wifely duties (solely caring for kids, etc), and failed? I don't know, but there's a dead kid here, and someone should be accountable.

I've been talking to a friend of hers who is a discussion group I'm in which is mostly women who went to my high school like the mother in this story though she is not a member of the group. (Now this is ALL heresay; I have no idea how much of it is true but it's what her friend has said in the group)

I believe they were raised in typical American culture. You know mom busting her ass while dad plays PS3 and oh yeah the drugs and domestic abuse......sounds pretty routine to me. I do not know what his nationality is and cannot find a picture of him.

According to the mom's friend when she got home he was playing PS3 and the kids were at a neighbors house. He had done nothing around the house that day while she was working. She went and got the kids and brought them home to bathe them and put them to bed. (According to his testimony this would have been 7-8 at night. I don't know if he works a real job. She was working at least 2 jobs from what I'm told. From what the friend says; the little girl and the mother told police that the parents were fighting before the father left and it got physical (while she was bathing the kids) I'm assuming they were fighting over him playing PS3 all day and doing nothing around the house. Hell maybe they were fighting because he wanted to leave but I do not know and I'm speculating.

I heard from the friend that he was terribly abusive and had tried to kill her at least twice. I also heard that he is a *suprise* drug addict (though I wouldn't doubt if she did them too) That when he left that night it was to go get drugs. I am also told that he was terrible to the children as well. Just a mean controlling asshole. I am told she has called the cops on him a few times and they came out but she always refused to press charges.

I don't know if any of that is true....so for now it's just rumored. I guess this is what the mother had told her friend. I don't know how good the info is and that's why I'm looking forward to when all the details come out.

**Sarah Miller** · April 29th, 2012, 03:27 PM

ok guys sorry it took me so long to get back to this but here we go.....

THere is alot that isnt told about this.. the 3 yr old girl who will be 5 in may. The state is still planning on letting her go back... they both neeed to rott in hell for what happen to baby brandon.. Their isnt a we can do to save this anymore.... i have the little girl most of the time... im in touch with the family alot ( not the mother or father)

**Tundratot** · April 29th, 2012, 06:08 PM

@Sarah Miller Are you the foster parent, then? You have the little girl most of the time? Who has her when you don't?

Their isnt a we can do to save this anymore....

Did you leave out the word "thing"? And what are you referring to? Keeping the little girl or to fix the parents or to get the charges moved forward?

Sorry, I'm confused and your comments are terse in the extreme, so I'd be interested to hear more detail when you have a chance to concentrate on them. This case/thread seems to be mostly hearsay -- e.g., no news coverage. Is this being kept out of the news or have charges been dropped?

**VAS1326** · April 29th, 2012, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by Sarah Miller

ok guys sorry it took me so long to get back to this but here we go.....

THere is alot that isnt told about this.. the 3 yr old girl who will be 5 in may. The state is still planning on letting her go back... they both neeed to rott in hell for what happen to baby brandon.. Their isnt a we can do to save this anymore.... i have the little girl most of the time... im in touch with the family alot ( not the mother or father)

Everybody Sarah is the person I was referring to when I said a friend of the mother. I just want to make that clear to everyone here. The information I relayed I got from Sarah herself.

That being said. Sarah when did you change your mind? I thought you said the mother was innocent and that the father did this? I'm confused because you seemed so adamant to defend her on JMG on FB.

I don't understand how you have her most the time? Does the foster family ask you to keep her? Has she been placed with family? From what I read on your posts and facebook page it appears you only have your child. Maybe you only talk about D (I won't use his full name without your permission) and that's why it appears that way. I mean after some of the stuff you have posted is your mother really okay with you having another child there? I'm not trying to be rude I just don't understand.

There has been no media coverage lately. What happened on the 3rd at the arraignment? Anything new in the case? Does she have her trial date yet?

Are you saying the state is giving the little girl back to her parents? I assume mom is still out on bond or no? I cannot see them giving her back to both parents before the mom's trial begins. That's just fucked up.

**VAS1326** · April 29th, 2012, 11:55 PM

Originally Posted by Tundratot

@Sarah Miller Are you the foster parent, then? You have the little girl most of the time? Who has her when you don't? Did you leave out the word "thing"? And what are you referring to? Keeping the little girl or to fix the parents or to get the charges moved forward?

Sorry, I'm confused and your comments are terse in the extreme, so I'd be interested to hear more detail when you have a chance to concentrate on them. This case/thread seems to be mostly hearsay -- e.g., no news coverage. Is this being kept out of the news or have charges been dropped?

The heresay is all from Sarah.Everything I posted quoting "the friend of the mother" I was referred to Sarah Miller. She is the woman from my group I was talking about. It takes her forever to respond to post some times so good luck getting more info.

**Sarah Miller** · May 5th, 2012, 08:13 PM

No im not the foster parent that is her aunt. im support person for her, so this mean that we have her if no school, sick or drs or even hoildays. you can see her on my fb. There is too much shit going on and i havnt been on either side but the lil girls for a while

**VAS1326** · May 6th, 2012, 01:59 AM

Originally Posted by Sarah Miller

No im not the foster parent that is her aunt. im support person for her, so this mean that we have her if no school, sick or drs or even hoildays. you can see her on my fb. There is too much shit going on and i havnt been on either side but the lil girls for a while

I'm sorry I just thought you were more or less pointing the finger at the father back in February/March while defending the mother. I left a message for you in the group there recently asking you about the trial and such since I know the mom had a hearing early March (I believe that's what it said) I saw the pictures of the little girl but they were from 2010 (I'm assuming she is the girl with your son around Christmas time correct?)

Since there is zero news lately what's going on with the mom is she out? Has an actual trial date been set? I'm just curious what happened here since you brought it up the first time.