Man who let 4-year-old son die in hot SUV files civil rights suit

After four years in prison, Stanley Rimer continues to deny his role in the death of his disabled 4-year-old son, who was left in a hot SUV for hours.

Now, in part because he wasn't released on his first chance at parole, Rimer complains that his civil rights have been violated.

In a lawsuit that appeared in Clark County's online court records last week, the 58-year-old Rimer said the Nevada Parole Board denied his release after "erroneous assessments, the reliance of false information in which the parole board determined whether the plaintiff could succeed on parole, and class based discrimination."

Records indicate the lawsuit was filed in December. Defendants include the Parole Board, Gov. Brian Sandoval, former Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto and three counties. Rimer is representing himself in the civil case.

At his 2011 trial, prosecutors said Rimer sat in his bedroom in June 2008, lamenting over an illness, without any apparent concern for his son's well-being, while the 4-year-old sat dying in a Ford Excursion. Rimer and his wife, Colleen Rimer, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter, as well as child abuse and neglect for physically abusing five of their eight children and letting them live in squalor.

The boy, Jason, suffered from myotonic dystrophy, a genetic muscular disorder that crippled his body and mind. He was unable to unlock car doors.

Jason died from heat stress, which could have taken three to five hours to kill him in the estimated 130-degree temperature in the car.

Since police first investigated the child's death, Rimer has tried to blame his wife, who was paroled in July 2014 from a five-to-20-year sentence. Rimer said he, too, should have been released. He is serving eight to 30 years behind bars.

In the 45-page, handwritten complaint against the Parole Board, Rimer continued to deflect responsibility.

"The watch routine between (Rimer) and spouse was under the care and control of his spouse and 19-year-old son while (Rimer) was down with heart attack like symptoms," he wrote.

Rimer complained that his wife was paroled because she is a woman. The Parole Board ordered Colleen Rimer not to have any contact with her husband of 28 years while he's in prison, which Rimer wrote "damaged the marital relationship between the two."

Prosecutor David Stanton handled Rimer's appeal, which was denied. Stanton said the father abused his wife and other children in the home.

Rimer did not check on the 4-year-old boy until after he heard the shrieks of another child, who found Jason still in his car seat after 17 hours. Even then, Rimer demanded that his older son pull the child's lifeless body out of the vehicle.

"Stanley Rimer is a despicable human being, and he deserves every single minute of his sentence," Stanton said Monday.

After the couple's arrests, several of their younger children were placed with relatives.

In the lawsuit, Rimer asks to be allowed contact with his wife. He also seeks at least $65 million in damages.

Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker