Nampa Parents Charged in Idaho Infant’s Death Scheduled for Canyon County Court Appearances Thursday
NAMPA, Idaho — Two Nampa parents facing felony charges in connection with the December 2025 death of their 12-day-old baby are scheduled to appear in Canyon County court Thursday, with the father expected to enter a change of plea and the mother set to enter her plea in a case that has drawn widespread attention across the Treasure Valley.
Background: Charges and Prior Criminal History
Brian Allen Lemke, 31, and Allysen Raider Armenta, 28, were charged following the death of their infant, identified in court documents only as “B.L.” Nampa Police Department investigators say the couple failed to report the baby’s death in December 2025, prompting the felony charges that followed.
Both Lemke and Armenta face charges of felony injury to a child, hiding evidence, and failing to report or delaying the reporting of a death, as well as a misdemeanor charge of resisting and obstructing officers. Lemke pleaded not guilty to all charges in February 2026. That same month, Canyon County Judge Thompson ordered Armenta to complete a competency evaluation before proceeding with her plea.
This is not the first time the couple has faced accusations of harming children. Court records reviewed by investigators show Lemke and Armenta pleaded guilty to three counts of misdemeanor injury to a child in Ada County in 2019. They were also convicted on another injury to a child charge in Boise County in 2023. Several of their other young children were removed from their care in recent years, placed in foster care, and subsequently adopted due to hazardous living conditions.
Key Details: Investigation and Evidence
According to court documents, Lemke told officers he believed Armenta had rolled over onto their 12-day-old baby while they were sleeping. Armenta and Lemke provided conflicting accounts of how the infant died. The Canyon County Coroner has indicated the baby likely died from suffocation, though final autopsy results remain pending.
Investigators pointed to text messages allegedly sent by Armenta following the baby’s death as part of the evidence in the case. Among the messages cited in court documents, Armenta allegedly wrote, “What did I do. I’m sorry,” and “I don’t know what happened, but it [must] be my fault.”
Nampa Police also described the couple’s trailer as unsafe for a child, documenting conditions that included trash, spoiled food, cigarettes, animal feces, and other debris throughout the home. The state of the residence was cited by investigators as part of the broader pattern of endangerment alleged against the couple.
Impact on Canyon County Residents
The case has raised serious questions in Canyon County about child welfare oversight and whether prior convictions and the earlier removal of children from the home should have triggered additional intervention. The couple’s prior criminal history — spanning Ada County and Boise County convictions — was known to authorities before the infant’s death in December 2025.
Cases like this one place significant strain on Canyon County’s court system, law enforcement, and child protective services. The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office has been involved in the investigation, and the case will now move forward in local district court. For broader coverage of how Idaho’s courts and child welfare systems are handling similar cases statewide, visit Idaho News.
The tragedy comes as Canyon County communities continue to grapple with challenges related to housing conditions, substance use, and child welfare — issues that affect families and neighborhoods from Nampa and Caldwell to Middleton and beyond.
What Comes Next
Both Lemke and Armenta are scheduled to appear before a Canyon County judge on Thursday. Lemke is expected to enter a change of plea, while Armenta is set to enter her initial plea. The outcome of Thursday’s proceedings will determine the next phase of what is expected to be a closely watched case in Canyon County’s judicial system.
Final autopsy results from the Canyon County Coroner’s Office are still pending. Those results are expected to play a significant role in how the case proceeds. Canyon County News will continue to follow developments as they emerge from the courthouse.