Florida mother Lisette Zamarripa, accused of sexually abusing toddlers on FaceTime for Michigan boyfriend, faces capital charges

A 28-year-old Florida mother sexually abused her two toddler children on FaceTime under the direction of their Michigan father, deputies said.

Lisette Zamarripa, 28, lived with her daughter and son in Vero Beach, Florida.

Kenneth A. Conkle, 38, lived in Almena Township, Michigan, and CBS12 reported that the arrest affidavit also identified him as the children’s biological father.

A CyberTip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children initially pointed Michigan State Police to a Kik account, investigators said.

Investigators obtained a search warrant and recovered images and videos involving the children, according to police.

Comparing that material with Zamarripa’s Facebook profile helped detectives identify her, authorities said.

Michigan investigators contacted authorities in Florida after determining the children were in immediate danger, police said.

A family member confirmed the mother was inside her home with both children, the arrest affidavit states.

Zamarripa walked outside with the children, and deputies immediately separated her from them, police said. The Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of both victims.

On September 3, Florida detectives arrested the mother about two and a half hours after receiving the information from Michigan, records show.

During questioning, Zamarripa initially denied one allegation, according to the affidavit. She later identified her children in redacted images shown to her and admitted the conduct described in the evidence, the document states.

The mother allegedly told detectives that she and Conkle had discussed the acts beforehand, deputies said.

Conkle allegedly watched the abuse on FaceTime from Michigan, directed the acts, and recorded them, investigators alleged.

Deputies seized Zamarripa’s cellphone after she identified it as the device used to record the material, court documents state.

That evening, Michigan investigators moved to secure the father’s electronics before potential evidence could be deleted, police said.

SWAT officers assisted with the search because investigators had information that firearms were inside the Michigan residence, authorities said.

Officers seized a cellphone, two computers, and a tablet for forensic examination, according to police.

Conkle also admitted to personally sexually abusing his one-year-old daughter, investigators said. He was arrested and taken to the Van Buren County Jail.

Zamarripa faces two counts of sexual battery and one count of electronically transmitting child sexual abuse material, prosecutors said. The Florida affidavit states that prosecutors also planned to seek a grand jury indictment on two counts of capital sexual battery.

Conkle faces Michigan charges including first-degree criminal sexual conduct, four counts involving production of aggravated child sexual abuse material, and five counts of using a computer to commit a crime, court records show.

Florida charges against the father were still pending in September reports, while neither defendant has been convicted. His bond on the Michigan criminal sexual conduct charge was listed at $2 million, records show.

Zamarripa is held without bond on the sexual battery counts with a separate $500,000 bond on the transmission charge, according to court documents. Her arraignment is scheduled for October 14.