Douglas Glenn Parker, 54, of Dalton, recently charged with the Friday murders of his mother, 71-year-old Edna Fields, and his sister, Rebecka June Wade, 45, at the Fields home in Ranger, waived extradition and was transported by Gordon County deputies from Cherokee County, N.C., Wednesday, according to Gordon County Chief Deputy Sheriff Robert Paris.
Douglas Parker has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of murder, said Paris.
According to a press release from the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office, Major Crimes Unit (MCU) detectives and Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agents have recovered the firearm believed to have been involved with the murders.
Additionally, Janet Parker has been charged with theft by taking after authorities discovered stolen property believed to be from the scene of the crime in her possession, according to Paris.
Though the murder is under investigation, authorities believe the violence stemmed from a prior domestic dispute which landed Douglas Parker in the Gordon County jail on May 21 for a battery charge against his mother, Edna Fields, said Paris.
Douglas Parker was soon released, in May, on a $10,000 bond.
Both Douglas and Janet Parker will appear in court pending a date for their first appearance.
“Sheriff’s MCU detectives and GBI agents from the Calhoun GBI office are continuing their investigation, and additional charges may be filed later,” said the press release from the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office.
Prior story
The Gordon County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating a double homicide that occurred in Ranger around 11:45 p.m. Friday, June 1.
According to Sheriff Mitch Ralston, deputy sheriffs were dispatched to 932 U.S. Highway 411 in response to the report of a double homicide.
Minutes later, deputies arrived on the scene and entered the home where they found the bodies of Edna Sue Fields, 71, and Rebecka June Wade, 45, of 237 Flora Drive, of Calhoun, according to the sheriff's office.
The bodies had initially been discovered by family members who had became concerned after Wade had been late for an appointment. Both victims had suffered apparent gunshot wounds. Deputies secured the scene and summoned the sheriff and detectives to the scene.
The Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit (MCU) and Crime Scene Unit immediately initiated an on-scene investigation. Sheriff Ralston also summoned assistance from the local GBI office to aid detectives with the scene and the continuation of the investigation. Detectives removed numerous articles of physical evidence from the crime scene and rapidly developed leads which indicated that the suspect was a family member by whom Fields had recently been victimized, according to the sheriff's office.
Throughout the night, detectives and GBI agents interviewed witnesses and investigated the crime scene.
According to the press release, following leads they’d developed from witnesses and physical evidence from the scene, and utilizing recently acquired technological resources, detectives located the suspect, identified as one Douglas Glenn Parker, age 54, whose last known address was listed as 152 Dawnville Road, Dalton, in Murphy, N.C.
Saturday, June 2, warrants were issued for Parker, who was charged with the murders of Fields, who is believed to be his mother, and Wade, who is believed to be his sister, according to Ralston. Detectives believe the murders were a result of an ongoing domestic dispute.
Detectives and GBI agents have identified another person of interest whom they believe to have knowledge of the murders. This second person has not been charged in connection with the deaths at this time, but is in police custody, according to the sheriff's office.
“This was a vile crime in an otherwise peaceful community. Two innocent lives have been taken, and the family of the victims are in our thoughts and prayers. While we can’t restore a lost loved one, I am pleased that we have resolved this case swiftly and the persons responsible will be held accountable before a jury of Gordon County citizens,” said Ralston. “I’d like to commend the E911 operators, deputies, MCU detectives, our local GBI office and our coroner’s office for their hard work in this case.”
From Daily Citizen Staff Reports
The sheriff’s office was called to a residence on Flora Drive in Calhoun on May 20 where Rebecka June Wade said Douglas Glenn Parker was mistreating their mother, Edna Sue Fields, after he and his wife had moved in with her, according to an incident report from the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office.
Wade told officers Parker was often verbally abusive to their mother and she had heard him “make threats to kill his mother (Fields) and then commit suicide,” according to the incident report.
Parker had recently been taken off his prescribed medication, which he was “highly dependent on,” Wade said, and he believed his mother was the reason.
“Ms. Wade stated Mr. Parker told (Fields) he had best not be around her because he wanted to look her in the eyes and ask her if she called his doctor about his medication and would most likely kill her,” the report said. “Ms. Wade stated she does not believe Mr. Parker would kill her, he is probably just talking out of his head because of his addiction.”
Fields and Parker’s wife had also argued over finances, the report said, and Fields told officers she did “tell Ms. Parker and Mr. Parker what she thought about them and told them she wanted them to move out of her residence.” During an ensuing argument Parker bent his mother backwards by putting his hands on her neck and back, and Fields told officers she was in severe pain as a result since she had a rod in her back, the report states.
Parker was charged with battery (family violence) and assault and was arrested.
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