Post by aleamon98 on Sept 2, 2009 15:36:54 GMT -5
Southern rock star Tom Petty once wrote, "the waiting is the hardest part." And that certainly applies in the murder trial of Sam Parker. The former LaFayette police sergeant has been on trial for the murder of his wife Theresa Parker for 13 days now.
The jury, selected out of Bartow County, because of the tremendous publicity surrounding this case enters its third day of deliberation. Theresa Parker spoke with her younger sister, Christina Hall, around 9:30 p.m. March 21st, 2007. That's the last known person to person contact mentioned in this trial.
The prosecution accuses Parker of killing her "in a manner unknown." She has not been seen or heard from since March 22, 2007. During the early morning hours of that morning, testimony indicates a phone call from her cell phone went to Curtis Creekmur. At that time, he was her boss at the Walker County 9-1-1 center. She was a dispatcher and night shift supervisor there. Creekmur testified the call came in at 6:03 that morning. He answered, but no one spoke. He made two return calls to her cell phone. Both went to voice mail.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over this case, followed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Detectives within the Walker County Sheriff's Department also worked countless hours. But Parker's body, cell phone, purse, nor keys to her Toyota Forerunner have never been found. Investigators believe Sam Parker used her Forerunner to dispose of her body. Forensic testimony indicated no blood or cleaning fluid was detected inside that S-U-V. Crime scene units did find a "trace" of Theresa Parker's blood "about the size of a playing card" on the rear bumper. Sam Parker's DNA was also found on the rear bumper.
Throughout this trial, multiple witnesses have testified the 26 year law enforcement veteran and former Marine had told them he knew "how to kill someone where no one would ever find the body." The prosecution told the jury in closing arguments that is exactly what he did with Theresa Parker. They were in the midst of a divorce and on her last night seen, she left her younger sister's Fort Oglethorpe home and was going to clean at her new apartment in Fort Oglethorpe for about two hours. Her sister testified Theresa told her she was going back to the Cordell Avenue home in the LaFayette area. She and Sam shared that home, although they did not share a bedroom or bank account. The prosecution said Sam "waited in the shadows of the Cordell Avenue home."
The defense countered that Sam Parker was very cooperative with investigators, agreeing to multiple searches, interviews and providing information related to this investigation. The defense says despite all the work, searching and digging no evidence has been found "because there is none." Parker's attorneys maintain there is no proof Theresa Parker is even dead.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Judge Jon "Bo" Wood asked the jury for an update on each of the four charges. Judge Wood adamantly told the forelady not to specify which way the 12 person jury was voting. On the murder charge, the forelady said "Four to eight." On the other three charges, the vote stands 12-0. Again, the forelady didn't specify which direction it is leaning. The other three charges, all felonies, are false statements, computer invasion of privacy and violation of an oath as a public officer.
The jury has been hashing out Parker's fate for about 13 hours spread over three days. Today, they have not come out of the "deliberation room" to ask any questions of the prosecution, defense or judge. Depend on us to have the latest information, including the verdict here on our website and on NewsChannel 9 at 5 and 6.
www.newschannel9.com/articles/awaiting-984294-parker-verdicts.html
The jury, selected out of Bartow County, because of the tremendous publicity surrounding this case enters its third day of deliberation. Theresa Parker spoke with her younger sister, Christina Hall, around 9:30 p.m. March 21st, 2007. That's the last known person to person contact mentioned in this trial.
The prosecution accuses Parker of killing her "in a manner unknown." She has not been seen or heard from since March 22, 2007. During the early morning hours of that morning, testimony indicates a phone call from her cell phone went to Curtis Creekmur. At that time, he was her boss at the Walker County 9-1-1 center. She was a dispatcher and night shift supervisor there. Creekmur testified the call came in at 6:03 that morning. He answered, but no one spoke. He made two return calls to her cell phone. Both went to voice mail.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over this case, followed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Detectives within the Walker County Sheriff's Department also worked countless hours. But Parker's body, cell phone, purse, nor keys to her Toyota Forerunner have never been found. Investigators believe Sam Parker used her Forerunner to dispose of her body. Forensic testimony indicated no blood or cleaning fluid was detected inside that S-U-V. Crime scene units did find a "trace" of Theresa Parker's blood "about the size of a playing card" on the rear bumper. Sam Parker's DNA was also found on the rear bumper.
Throughout this trial, multiple witnesses have testified the 26 year law enforcement veteran and former Marine had told them he knew "how to kill someone where no one would ever find the body." The prosecution told the jury in closing arguments that is exactly what he did with Theresa Parker. They were in the midst of a divorce and on her last night seen, she left her younger sister's Fort Oglethorpe home and was going to clean at her new apartment in Fort Oglethorpe for about two hours. Her sister testified Theresa told her she was going back to the Cordell Avenue home in the LaFayette area. She and Sam shared that home, although they did not share a bedroom or bank account. The prosecution said Sam "waited in the shadows of the Cordell Avenue home."
The defense countered that Sam Parker was very cooperative with investigators, agreeing to multiple searches, interviews and providing information related to this investigation. The defense says despite all the work, searching and digging no evidence has been found "because there is none." Parker's attorneys maintain there is no proof Theresa Parker is even dead.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Judge Jon "Bo" Wood asked the jury for an update on each of the four charges. Judge Wood adamantly told the forelady not to specify which way the 12 person jury was voting. On the murder charge, the forelady said "Four to eight." On the other three charges, the vote stands 12-0. Again, the forelady didn't specify which direction it is leaning. The other three charges, all felonies, are false statements, computer invasion of privacy and violation of an oath as a public officer.
The jury has been hashing out Parker's fate for about 13 hours spread over three days. Today, they have not come out of the "deliberation room" to ask any questions of the prosecution, defense or judge. Depend on us to have the latest information, including the verdict here on our website and on NewsChannel 9 at 5 and 6.
www.newschannel9.com/articles/awaiting-984294-parker-verdicts.html