In North Carolina, a 52-year-old woman is set to spend the next two decades behind bars, having confessed to the killing of a former colleague following a minor workplace dispute and then evading capture for six months.
Tangela Louise Parker recently pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder for fatally shooting 51-year-old Phelifia Michelle Marlow in 2021. The sentencing by Haywood County Superior Court Judge Bradley B. Letts decreed that Parker would serve a sentence ranging from 20 to 25 years in a state correctional facility.
During the court proceedings, Chief Assistant District Attorney Tim Gould highlighted the ruthless nature of the crime, describing it as an execution rather than a mere murder. He expressed the pain inflicted on the victim's family and the community.
Following the sentencing, Judge Letts addressed a significant gathering of the victim's family and friends who had come to witness justice being served. He acknowledged that Michelle Marlow had done nothing wrong and expressed his condolences to the grieving family.
According to Michelle Marlow's husband, Justin Marlow, the tragic incident stemmed from a trivial argument between his wife and Tangela Parker over rearranging tables at their workplace, TCS Designs, a furniture company. This dispute led to Parker being suspended without pay for three days.
Witnesses reported Parker's aggressive behavior and verbal abuse towards Marlow.
The fatal shooting occurred during the workday, witnessed by many at TCS Designs in Hickory. Parker approached the area where Marlow was working and shot her in the chest with a .357 Magnum revolver. As Marlow attempted to flee, Parker shot her in the back of the head.
Responding to the scene, officers and medical personnel found Marlow seriously injured but sadly she succumbed to her injuries later at a hospital. Notably, Tangela Parker's husband, Eric Parker, was also employed at TCS and present at the time of the shooting.
Following the deadly incident, the Parkers went on the run, adopting false identities and a stolen license plate to evade law enforcement for six months. They were eventually apprehended in Arizona in July 2021 on fugitive warrants.
The murder weapon, recovered from their vehicle during their capture, was presented in court during Tangela Parker's plea hearing.
Ten individuals shared victim impact statements, shedding light on how Michelle Marlow's murder profoundly affected their lives, including her daughter, Makayla Marlow, who expressed the irreplaceable loss of her mother.
Eric Parker, Tangela's husband, remains in detention and faces one count of accessory to murder after the fact. He has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial.
Meanwhile, in a recent courtroom case, a man found himself acquitted by a jury after shooting a YouTuber in the stomach. See detailed story here.
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