North Carolina Woman Sentenced to Two Decades for Cold-Blooded Workplace Murder
Oct 12, 2023, 01:00 AM
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Tangela Louise Parker, 52, has been sentenced to a minimum of two decades behind bars after confessing to the murder of her former colleague, 51-year-old Phelifia Michelle Marlow. The tragedy stems from a petty workplace dispute that escalated to a fatal shooting, pushing Parker and her husband, Eric Parker, to flee the state and adopt false identities for six months before their capture.
The judicial proceedings took place on Thursday in the Haywood County Superior Court, where Parker formally pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder. Presiding over the case, Judge Bradley B. Letts delivered a sentence of 20 to 25 years in a state correctional facility, acknowledging the severity of the crime.
During the court proceedings, Chief Assistant District Attorney Tim Gould underscored the cold-blooded nature of Marlow's murder. Gould depicted the shooting as more than a murder; it was an execution, leaving the victim with no chance. He emphasized the profound hurt inflicted on Marlow's family and the community at large.
After pronouncing the sentence, Judge Letts directly addressed a large gathering of the victim's family and friends. In a poignant moment, he expressed the heavy heart that accompanies the revelation that bad and unspeakable things happen to good people. He offered condolences to Marlow's loved ones, acknowledging their irreplaceable loss and the enduring love and support she had experienced for 51 years.
The tragedy can be traced back to a seemingly trivial disagreement between Marlow and Parker at TCS Designs, a furniture company where they both worked. The dispute over moving tables escalated, leading to Parker's suspension for three days without pay. Witnesses recounted Parker's aggressive behavior, screaming and hurling abuses at Marlow, who responded with restraint.
Several employees reported Parker to the plant manager, citing her as the instigator of the confrontation. Prosecutors revealed that Marlow hardly responded to Parker's outbursts, setting the stage for a fatal encounter. The deadly shooting occurred during a workday, witnessed by numerous employees at TCS Design in Hickory. Parker approached Marlow and fired shots with a .357 Magnum revolver, leaving her no chance to escape. Prosecutor Tim Gould highlighted Parker's derogatory language towards Marlow and her explicit threat before the shooting.
Responding to the tragic scene, officers from the Hickory Police Department and Catawba County Emergency Medical Services found Marlow lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Despite efforts to save her, Marlow succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
Parker's husband, Eric Parker, who also worked at TCS, was present at the plant when the fatal shooting occurred. Following the incident, the Parkers fled the state, adopting fictitious names—Jason and Elizabeth Reardon—and utilizing a stolen license plate to evade law enforcement. Their fugitive journey, lasting six months, involved living in their Honda CRV, taking odd jobs, and constantly changing their identities. The couple was eventually apprehended in Arizona in July 2021, with the murder weapon found in their vehicle.
Parker's defense attorney, Vickie Jayne, asserted that her client had no memory of the shooting, attributing it to the consumption of high doses of Xanax, resulting in diminished mental capacity at the time. Despite this claim, the court confronted Parker with the stark reality of her actions.
In a compelling turn of events, ten people, including Marlow's daughter Makayla Marlow, shared victim impact statements, illustrating how the murder had profoundly affected their lives. Makayla eloquently described her mother as her best friend, rock, and certified support system, violently taken away on January 13, 2021. The collective sentiment was one of profound grief and anger at the untimely loss.
Meanwhile, Eric Parker, facing one count of accessory to murder after the fact, remains in detention, having pleaded not guilty.
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The judicial proceedings took place on Thursday in the Haywood County Superior Court, where Parker formally pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder. Presiding over the case, Judge Bradley B. Letts delivered a sentence of 20 to 25 years in a state correctional facility, acknowledging the severity of the crime.
During the court proceedings, Chief Assistant District Attorney Tim Gould underscored the cold-blooded nature of Marlow's murder. Gould depicted the shooting as more than a murder; it was an execution, leaving the victim with no chance. He emphasized the profound hurt inflicted on Marlow's family and the community at large.
After pronouncing the sentence, Judge Letts directly addressed a large gathering of the victim's family and friends. In a poignant moment, he expressed the heavy heart that accompanies the revelation that bad and unspeakable things happen to good people. He offered condolences to Marlow's loved ones, acknowledging their irreplaceable loss and the enduring love and support she had experienced for 51 years.
The tragedy can be traced back to a seemingly trivial disagreement between Marlow and Parker at TCS Designs, a furniture company where they both worked. The dispute over moving tables escalated, leading to Parker's suspension for three days without pay. Witnesses recounted Parker's aggressive behavior, screaming and hurling abuses at Marlow, who responded with restraint.
Several employees reported Parker to the plant manager, citing her as the instigator of the confrontation. Prosecutors revealed that Marlow hardly responded to Parker's outbursts, setting the stage for a fatal encounter. The deadly shooting occurred during a workday, witnessed by numerous employees at TCS Design in Hickory. Parker approached Marlow and fired shots with a .357 Magnum revolver, leaving her no chance to escape. Prosecutor Tim Gould highlighted Parker's derogatory language towards Marlow and her explicit threat before the shooting.
Responding to the tragic scene, officers from the Hickory Police Department and Catawba County Emergency Medical Services found Marlow lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Despite efforts to save her, Marlow succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
Parker's husband, Eric Parker, who also worked at TCS, was present at the plant when the fatal shooting occurred. Following the incident, the Parkers fled the state, adopting fictitious names—Jason and Elizabeth Reardon—and utilizing a stolen license plate to evade law enforcement. Their fugitive journey, lasting six months, involved living in their Honda CRV, taking odd jobs, and constantly changing their identities. The couple was eventually apprehended in Arizona in July 2021, with the murder weapon found in their vehicle.
Parker's defense attorney, Vickie Jayne, asserted that her client had no memory of the shooting, attributing it to the consumption of high doses of Xanax, resulting in diminished mental capacity at the time. Despite this claim, the court confronted Parker with the stark reality of her actions.
In a compelling turn of events, ten people, including Marlow's daughter Makayla Marlow, shared victim impact statements, illustrating how the murder had profoundly affected their lives. Makayla eloquently described her mother as her best friend, rock, and certified support system, violently taken away on January 13, 2021. The collective sentiment was one of profound grief and anger at the untimely loss.
Meanwhile, Eric Parker, facing one count of accessory to murder after the fact, remains in detention, having pleaded not guilty.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com