Days Inn Mcalester Oklahoma

Bobbi Parker trial finally begins after 17 years and monthslong jury selection

Inmate escape

The saga began the afternoon of Aug. 30, 1994, when Bobbi Parker drove the family van from her home on the prison grounds with Dial hiding inside. Parker's husband, then Deputy Warden Randy Parker , discovered Dial and his wife missing that evening and notified authorities.

Dial, an accomplished artist, and Parker, the mother of two young daughters, spent most days together in the Parker home garage, where an art studio had been set up for him to produce sculptures and paintings that could be sold to offset prison costs.Bobbi Parker, then 32, was put in charge of overseeing Dial while her husband worked in the vicinity of the prison.

Except for three phone calls in tears to his mother and a friend - but not her husband - Parker was not heard again until almost 11 years later, when a piece of the television series "America's Most Wanted" authorities led to the dilapidated trailer where Parker and Dial lived near the center, Texas. They had taken the names Richard and Samantha Deahl - Samantha was the name of the grandmother Bobbi Parker. And they presented themselves as married .

Separately, the pair told authorities that Bobbi Parker was held against her will, having been brainwashed by the charismatic fugitive into believing that if she left him he'd call in mafia favors and have her family killed.

Investigators, however, said they found love letters, holiday cards and condoms in the eastern Texas trailer. The trailer had two bedrooms; one was used as a computer room. Their clothing was intermingled in drawers.

When Randy Parker learned of his wife's location he drove through the night to meet her at a Holiday Inn Express . The next day, they returned to Oklahoma and remain married. They live in Lexington , where he works for the Department of Corrections. Their daughters, who were age 7 and 8 when their mom disappeared, are now both grown and married.

Opening statements

In the courtroom Tuesday were Randy Parker's parents and the Parker's pastor. Randy Parker and both Parker daughters were there too, but had to leave the courtroom because they are potential witnesses.

Opening statements before Greer County District Judge Richard Darby took all day Tuesday and will continue today. Dressed in a black suit, Bobbi Parker sat quietly and without expression. Assistant District Attorney David Thomas expects to prove that Bobbi Parker fell in love with Dial and helped him escape.

Morning's at Noon: Sharon Ervin's Story Behind The Story

Though she considers herself a coward, Ruth finds the courage to board the airplane in Dallas for the first leg of her adventure, an overseas flight to London. She has no idea that seatmate Jack Standish will turn out to be her best friend and treasured traveling companion or that she will eventually fall in love again--with a land and a culture and, surprisingly, with the very diverse people awaiting her there. I told her as much as I was allowed. One was a physician, one a high school counselor, one a parole officer, another a science teacher, another a boy scout exec. The seventh one was in prison for murder. Although he insisted he was innocent, he had a long criminal record. He couldn’t attend the reunion. The R.N. did, however, and later sent a happy thank-you note. Looking for something the victims have in common, Jim suggests finding out where they were at the time of the robberies. Jancy’s phone calls turn up information that all victims were at St. Simeon’s Hospital for one reason or another. A visit to the hospital reveals that a new night nurse named Charlie Denim was recently hired and nobody bothered to check his references. Pursuit of a will o’ the wisp like Charlie Denim is frustrating. Almost by accident Jancy and Will discover his identity and the method in his murderous scheme. Suspense kicks into high gear as they try to stay out of his clutches. In one encounter Jancy uses the old knee-to-the-groin maneuver to escape him. She’s warned by a note hidden in a dead man’s shoe, but Denim takes her by surprise and the next encounter is almost fatal.

Wow! Fascinating story, and Oh, Sharon, you are so right! I never did sit down with my grandparents and just talk, mainly because by the time I was grown and had sense enough to do it, we ived far away from them and I never really had the opportunity or thought to do it. I wish I had asked them about their past lives when I was younger. Everybody has a story, and if you ask, you'll find it. I wish I had. Your books sound fascinating and I will be buying some. What a treasure trove this blog group is! Pat, great blog, and you put this up during those tornados in Oklahoma? That's real courage!