Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh announced on Thursday, November 3, that a Kootenai County Grand Jury returned two four count indictments charging Amber Marie Clark, (28 YOA) and Jeremy Michael Clark (36 YOA), both of Post Falls, for their actions in relation to the death of two year old Karina Moore, as well as injuries sustained to another child. The indictments charge two counts of injury to child, one count of conspiracy to conceal evidence and one count of perjury.
The charges stem from injuries sustained to a four year old boy placed in the Clark home in 2007 and 2008 as a foster child. The charges also stem from the January 2009 death of Karina Moore, who died while in the care and custody of the Clarks. At the time of this incident, the Clarks were serving in the capacity as foster parents for Karina Moore, who was in the care of the State of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Additional charges pertain to the investigation surrounding Karina Moore's death and the Clarks' testimony at a related hearing.
On January 6th, 2009 the Post Falls Police Department responded to the home of Amber and Jeremy Clark on E. 2nd Avenue in Post Falls for a reported fall. When officers arrived at the Clark home, they discovered Karina Moore lifeless and unresponsive. Officers immediately started life saving efforts to revive Karina.
Karina was transported to Kootenai Medical Center and then air lifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington for treatment. On January 16th, 2009 Karina succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead.
The Medical Examiner who conducted the autopsy concluded that Karina's death was the result of homicide.
From the start of the investigation, the Prosecuting Attorney's Office and the Post Falls Police Department made this case a priority. Investigators from the Prosecuting Attorney's Office worked closely with the Post Falls Police Department's investigations staff, spending nearly three years investigating this case. They gathered evidence, interviewed witnesses and eventually submitted the case to the Prosecutor for charges.
Today, the Post Falls Police Department arrested both Jeremy and Amber Clark. The arrests were made without incident and the Clarks were both transported to the Kootenai County Public Safety Building and booked on the above mentioned charges.
An indictment is an accusation by a Kootenai County grand jury, and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted, each face a maximum statutory sentence of ten years for the injury to child counts, five years for the conspiracy counts and fourteen years for the perjury counts.
