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November 29, 2009

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Trial set for parents of boy, 4, who died in hot vehicle

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Photos from Metro Police

Colleen M. Rimer and Stanley E. Rimer are charged with second-degree murder and multiple counts of child abuse, neglect and endangerment.

Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 | 12:37 p.m.

Colleen Rimer Exclusive Interview

Face to Face with Jon Ralston Executive Producer Dana Gentry interviews accused murderer Colleen Rimer from the Clark County Detention Center.

A trial date has been set for the parents of a 4-year-old boy who died after being left for 17 hours in the family's SUV in June 2008.

Stanley and Colleen Rimer are set to stand trial on Nov. 15, 2010, on charges of second-degree murder and multiple counts of child abuse, neglect and endangerment. The trial is expected to last about two weeks, prosecutors said today.

The murder charge stems from a June 8, 2008, incident at the family's home near Sahara Avenue and Nellis Boulevard.

Police responded to the home after a report at about 8:30 a.m. that Jason Rimer, 4, had been found not moving in the family's vehicle. That vehicle had been parked at the home since about 3 p.m. the previous day, when family members returned from church.

Jason was pronounced dead. He was still dressed for church, wearing a white shirt and tie, court records show.

The coroner's office determined the boy died from heat exposure.

Several of the charges against the Rimers stem from the conditions related to their other children. Records show the family had come to the attention of Child Protective Services multiple times in recent years. Reports from the time of Jason's death and previous records indicate the Rimers' home was unkempt and the children had lice on occasion.

Stanley Rimer's attorney, deputy public defender Tim O'Brien, said today he had asked the Nevada Supreme Court to hear an argument to dismiss the indictment but the Supreme Court declined to hear it.

A motion to dismiss the case in District Court will be heard Jan. 6, 2010. Previous motions to dismiss have been denied, according to court records.

The family told police that Jason suffered from a medical condition known as myotonic dystrophy -- a form of muscular dystrophy characterized by the wasting away of muscles. He had a limited vocabulary and was physically weak, unable to dress himself or to open doors, records indicate.

"This is a pair that lost their entire family. It's very sad," O'Brien said.

Motions to sever the defendants' cases as well as to try the murder charge and the abuse and neglect charges separately also have been denied.

O'Brien said at the time Jason was left in the vehicle, Stanley Rimer hadn't been in charge of him. He had been ill and, after returning from church before the rest of the family, had remained in his room.

"My client's position is that his wife made a terrible mistake. Whether it's criminal or not will be up to a jury," O'Brien said.

The Rimers remain in custody at the Clark County Detention Center. Their children are being cared for by a relative in another state, O'Brien said.

Discussion: 21 comments so far…

  1. This family habitually neglected their children and relied on the older children to raise the younger ones. Multiple calls to and visits from CPS tell the story. It is truly a tragic case, not only for the child who died, but those siblings left behind; namely the brother who found the victim. Bless those kids that they may find peace, as for those people so inappropriately called parents, I only wish they could suffer the way their child did.

  2. "The family told police that Jason suffered from a medical condition known as myotonic dystrophy -- a form of muscular dystrophy characterized by the wasting away of muscles. He had a limited vocabulary and was physically weak, unable to dress himself or to open doors, records indicate."

    Evidence of a society crying out for legal alternatives to euphanize their suffering.

    : (

  3. White trash couple of the year.

  4. Looking at picture, mother has mytonic dystrophy as well. As such, she may have cognitive difficulties and severe daytime sleepiness that may have contributed to this tragedy. It would be best not to judge so severely and in haste till more is known.

  5. The article says that the trial will start o 11-15-2010. Why the long wait? Or is that a typo?

  6. The trial is expected to last two weeks, why would it take more than forty-five minutes?

  7. Good mormons.

  8. Phargo, the trial date of November 2010 is correct. It's not uncommon for trials to be rescheduled, especially if a person waives his or her right to a speedy trial. This case has been set for trial on several different dates, which have been vacated for a variety of reasons at the request of either the state or the defense attorneys. Court records show it was first set for trial in September 2008, then again in March, then again last month, with the latest date being next November.

  9. Phargo -- another bedrock legal principle conveniently discarded by our "just us" system is "justice delayed is justice denied." Note this protection being stripped away as well as the rest of the Bill of Rights.

    2zero -- exactly where did you get these accused are "mormons"?

  10. Maybe the taxpayers should sue Child Protective Services. The Rimers were on the radar...but no one cared enough or were interested enough to do anything. Too much like work.

  11. KillerB: exactly from the LVRJ @

    http://www.lvrj.com/news/22300404.html

    All you have to do is type "rimer" in the search engine of ether local newspaper and you will read that the Rimers were devote mormons, going to church was more important than the child that died and that the church (ward) members were aware of the family's problems.

  12. One thing is for sure here. A poor little boy suffocate and died a slow agonizing death due to the neglect of the two people whom he relied on for safety and protection.. Tragic..

  13. Two loosers, No Mercy

  14. how long have they both been in custody

  15. put these mothe****kers UNDER the jail.

  16. Sentence a hot car for 17 hours. Since it is fall, place them in a car that is getting a paint bake at an auto body shop. Same difference

  17. People like this should not be allowed to procreate in the first place. Life in prison for them I say.

  18. This scenario was depicted on an episode of "Law and Order" a few years ago. The child in the tv show suffered from some hideous disease and the mother had him "accidently" killed. The mother was found guilty. This lil boy Jason was suffering also and Child Protective Services was aware of this boy's predicament. They callously ignored repeated offenses by the Rimers. Probably because they are "understaffed" and "overworked" , but the truth is they just don't care about lil kids like Jason. CPS is at fault too. I grieve for Jason, very much. Imagine his discomfort in that car. Imagine having parents like that. Jason doesn't have to worry about Health Care Reform now, does he?

  19. Jason was post aborted. Kidslaughter. The mother wanted to spare herself a lifetime of care for a needy child, a prison of sorts, that she obviously couldn't handle. Compare this to mothers who get knocked up and don't want the "hassle" of raising a child and decide to pull the plug on the growing, alive, developing child within her life support chamber (womb). She gets a high five from Obama and federal money to perform the murder. This mother gets rocks thrown at her.

    I see no difference.

    Killing a child is killing a child, whether deemed legal by our Satanic society or not.

  20. To all you sick liberal minded mothers out there who have killed your unborn children, you have suffered mental anguish in this life, and "bad luck" which you created for yourself. You will also suffer in the after life. Such is karma. Such are the laws of nature. You cannot give back life once it's taken. You will suffer because of your selfish decisions. The Prophet has spoken. Let it be written, let it be done!

  21. "But Mr Prophet, isn't it worse to allow an unwanted child to be brought into this world? A child without a father? Won't that child just end up a hooker or criminal?"

    I knew someone would raise this issue, so I want to nip it in the bud to avoid any debate in this black and white issue. The mother is a life support system for the child. Once born, she continues to be the child's life support, as the child will die if she lays it on the couch and does not feed it or give it liquid. Even with a bad upbringing, once a child comes of age, at least it will have a chance to make it's own decisions, forge it's own destiny. Some of these otherwise aborted children could become famous entertainers, sports figures, or good citizens who contribute to society. Some like Bill Clinton can become president. (he was adopted, parents gave him up instead of aborted) The choice is theirs. Yes, the deck is stacked against them. No, it doesn't mean they are doomed or guaranteed to fail. LET THEM HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE AT LIFE! Who is to say a child from a poor mother doesn't deserve to live? What about all the handicapped children? Should we kill them as well because their quality of life won't be great? Who are we to decide whether or not a developing child has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

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