Post by gagal on Jun 29, 2007 9:06:28 GMT -5
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Originally appeared in Walker County Messenger, 04/27/2007
Floyd County District Attorney Leigh Patterson confirmed this morning that she has been assigned to the case of missing Walker County 911 dispatcher Theresa Parker.
Parker has been missing since March 21. No arrests have been made, but investigators have said Parker's estranged husband, Sam, a former LaFayette police officer, is a person of interest in the case.
Sam Parker was fired earlier this month after police reportedly found explosives in his police locker.
Buzz Franklin, Walker County's district attorney, disqualified himself from the case. Patterson declined to discuss details.
Franklin, who serves Walker, Catoosa, Chattooga and Dade counties in the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, said it was standard procedure in cases with local officers he works often with.
“I’ve tried several cases involving Sam (a
Buzz Franklin, Walker County district attorney s a state’s witness) and he’s a friend,” Franklin said Friday morning. “It would just be better for everyone involved if we weren’t participating in the potential prosecution.”
Franklin sent a letter dated April 5 to state Attorney General Thurbert E. Baker asking for relief in the case. In the letter he described his relationship with the Parkers.
Click here to read the full text of Buzz Franklin's letter
“Due to the relationships, it would avoid the appearance of impropriety for an independent prosecutor to advise and guide the various law enforcement agencies in this matter and to prosecute any case against Sam Parker which may arise from the investigation,” he continued in the letter.
Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson said he could not speak to the contents of the letter or any implied evidence.
“I wouldn’t be in a position to comment about that,” Wilson said. “The DA that has been assigned to the case, Leigh Patterson, has advised me not to speak about any evidence in the case or any investigative acts in the case.”
The situation is similar to that of Floyd County police investigator Dallas Battle, who is under investigation. Patterson recused herself from that case and it has been assigned to the Cobb County DA's office.
Originally appeared in Walker County Messenger, 04/27/2007
Floyd County District Attorney Leigh Patterson confirmed this morning that she has been assigned to the case of missing Walker County 911 dispatcher Theresa Parker.
Parker has been missing since March 21. No arrests have been made, but investigators have said Parker's estranged husband, Sam, a former LaFayette police officer, is a person of interest in the case.
Sam Parker was fired earlier this month after police reportedly found explosives in his police locker.
Buzz Franklin, Walker County's district attorney, disqualified himself from the case. Patterson declined to discuss details.
Franklin, who serves Walker, Catoosa, Chattooga and Dade counties in the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, said it was standard procedure in cases with local officers he works often with.
“I’ve tried several cases involving Sam (a
Buzz Franklin, Walker County district attorney s a state’s witness) and he’s a friend,” Franklin said Friday morning. “It would just be better for everyone involved if we weren’t participating in the potential prosecution.”
Franklin sent a letter dated April 5 to state Attorney General Thurbert E. Baker asking for relief in the case. In the letter he described his relationship with the Parkers.
Click here to read the full text of Buzz Franklin's letter
“Due to the relationships, it would avoid the appearance of impropriety for an independent prosecutor to advise and guide the various law enforcement agencies in this matter and to prosecute any case against Sam Parker which may arise from the investigation,” he continued in the letter.
Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson said he could not speak to the contents of the letter or any implied evidence.
“I wouldn’t be in a position to comment about that,” Wilson said. “The DA that has been assigned to the case, Leigh Patterson, has advised me not to speak about any evidence in the case or any investigative acts in the case.”
The situation is similar to that of Floyd County police investigator Dallas Battle, who is under investigation. Patterson recused herself from that case and it has been assigned to the Cobb County DA's office.