Prosecution, defense say CBS show on Parker case was positive
Feb 01, 2010 | 2209 views | 3 
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The episode, titled “The Secret,” aired Saturday night.
Leigh Patterson, Floyd County district attorney and prosecuting attorney in the Parker trial, said she was glad the episode presented the community in LaFayette and Walker County in a positive light.
Patterson said she considered it a challenge to the producers of the show to consolidate a three-week trial into a 50-minute episode.
On her experience with being on the show, Patterson said, “I learned a lot. It was a positive experience for me.”
According to Patterson, she hopes the episode will help other women in similar situations of domestic violence.
“I hope other women who saw it use it as a reason to get away from domestic violence,” Patterson said.
Patterson said there were so many other pieces of evidence from the trial that were not shown, but understands the time restraints on it being a one-hour program.
About a half-dozen “48 Hours Mystery” producers and crew members, at any given time, were on site for Parker’s murder trial in Walker County Superior Court in downtown LaFayette from late August to early September.
Parker was accused of murdering his wife Theresa, a dispatcher with Walker County 911 who disappeared in March 2007. At the time Sam was a sergeant with the LaFayette Police Department. He was charged with his wife’s murder in February 2008, even though her body was never found. He was found guilty and is currently serving a life sentence.
David Dunn, public defender and defense attorney for Sam Parker, said, in general, he thought it was an “even-ended presentation” and acknowledges that some details did not make the episode, but he understands due to the time restraints.
Dunn said that he would like to have seen additional details that were left out of the show.
According to Dunn, the episode featured assistant public defender and Parker defense attorney Doug Woodruff, but misspelled his name as “Woodard.”
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comments (3)
« pdw4jc wrote on Tuesday, Feb 02 at 01:32 PM »
As someone that moved into the county during the search, and subsequent trial, I watched with hope of having some gaps filled in. I figured that not being from here there was alot I didn't know but was hopeful that the 48 hrs segment would fill in these holes, sadly it didn't. After viewing the segment I could easily understand why Mr. Parker would be considered a suspect, but unfortunately at no time did I see the prosecution present a case that was worthy of convicting anyone of murder. If I had been a juror on this case there is no way I could of in any right conscience handed down a murder conviction with no more evidence than was provided by the prosecution. I was certain that during the jury interview portion they would bring out those specific bits of evidence they could say caused them to enter the guilty verdict as they did, but that was not the case. What I mostly got was the jurors didnt' believe the truthfulness of the prosecutions star witness, along with some things that would cause speculation, but still not hard evidence. It just concerns me that we can pass down a conviction on someone when the Law states it must be beyond any reasonable doubt, and the prosecution hasn't even proven the victim is dead. But on the other hand we can let a man off of first degree murder and the body of the victim is laying in his own yard, after he, the murderer, called 911 telling them he had killed the man. It just concerns me what sense of justice we have. I believe there is a great need for some major overhaul in our "Justice System" here in Walker County. After viewing the segment I am greatly concerned.
« justavoiceinthecrowd wrote on Monday, Feb 01 at 03:08 PM »
I watched the show, and because it was named "The Secret", I thought it was suggesting that there was some earth shattering new evidence. There wasn't. I agree that the show may help others to get out of situations like the one Theresa was in. But I also think they need to be cautious and exit safely so they don't provoke the mad man. So many are killed every year trying to escape these unlivable conditions. So many end up dead because of it. There are ways to get away safely. I hope that anyone looking to get out of a circumstance like this, will do their homework first and reach out to those who can help them "escape". I hope they find her one day, and bring her home to the family that loved her. I hope he thinks about what he did every day of his life.
« SamElliot wrote on Monday, Feb 01 at 02:59 PM »
Great story!!
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