Cops Arrest Idaho Parents Accused of Killing 12-Day-Old Baby and Trying to Cover Up the Death

Authorities in Idaho investigating the tragic death of a nearly 2-week-old infant have arrested the child’s parents, according to local reports.

Brian Allen Lemke, 31, and Allysen Raider Armenta, 28, were arrested in Nampa on Monday, December 29. Both have been formally charged with felony injury to a child, destroying evidence, failure to notify a death, and resisting and obstructing an arrest, according to a press statement from the Nampa Police Department.

Police have accused Lemke and Armenta of trying to cover up the baby’s death. Investigators have not provided any identifying information about the child, including its name and sex.

Police first got involved with the couple on December 16. Early that morning, dispatchers received a call from the couple’s home about the possible death of an infant.

Emergency responders arrived at the home and confirmed the baby was dead.

“The father was still on scene and reported the baby’s mother was not on scene,” read the press statement. “After further investigation by detectives, it was determined the infant passed away in a different location and was later moved into the house. Officers also found the infant’s mother hiding in a camp trailer in the backyard.”

Armenta was taken into custody without incident on an unrelated out-of-county warrant. Both parents are being held without bond, and attempts to identify their lawyers were unsuccessful Tuesday, December 30.

Police said this case remains under investigation and noted the cause of death was pending, as officials awaited autopsy results.

KTVB reports that Lemke and Armenta have been accused of similar crimes before.

Lemke pled guilty in 2019 to three counts of misdemeanor injury to a child. Those charges were filed after deputies found three toddlers living in dangerous conditions.

Deputies at the time reported that the house was full of garbage and debris as well as moldy food, knives and sharp objects, all kept within reach of the children. The front yard was littered with dirty diapers. One of the children also had an open sore on his mouth and a bruise on his head.

Armenta also faced the same three charges around the same time, but the station did not disclose the outcome of that case.

Court records indicate Lemke and Armenta have faced numerous charges relating to child abuse and animal neglect dating all the way back to 2017.

Both were sentenced to 180 days in jail after violating parole, breaking the terms of the plea agreement. They both pleaded guilty in 2019 to three counts of injury to a child. We are continuing to investigate their court records and will continue to update this story as we learn more.

A former foster parent, who has since adopted some of Lemke and Armenta’s other children, told Idaho News 6 they had reached out to Idaho Health and Welfare and Nampa police for a welfare check on the family weeks before arrests were made.

Anyone who may have any information relevant to this case is asked to contact Nampa Police Detective Mason Foster at (208) 565-5174.