Double-murder defendant Brett Parker stood to receive about $1.1 million if his wife died, the prosecution disclosed Thursday in court.
That is the first public explanation of why Brett Parker would shoot Tammy Jo Parker in what authorities say was a faked robbery gone bad in the couple’s Irmo-area home last spring.
Judge DeAndrea Benjamin denied bond to Parker, despite pleas from his defense lawyers that he has no criminal record and posed no threat to flee before trial.
The 5th Circuit prosecutor said Parker stood to gain about $1 million in insurance and $200,000 from his dead wife's 401k plan.
The prosecutor also said Brett Parker was about $600,000 in debt.
Parker, 42, is charged with two counts of murder in the April 13 shooting deaths of Tammy Jo Parker,44, and family friend Bryan Capnerhurst, 46.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said Capnerhurst worked for Brett Parker’s illicit sports gambling business.
Tammy Parker and Capnerhurst were shot at the Parker’s home in the upscale Ascot Estates subdivision near Irmo in what detectives say was a faked burglary that turned deadly.
Prosecutors have not said whether they intend to seek the death penalty, which can be invoked in a case where two or more people are killed.
Capnerhurst arrived at the house that Friday ostensibly to pick up his share of the gambling profits, which that day amounted to $20,000, Lott said last week in announcing Parker's arrest.
Tammy Parker already had been shot with a large-caliber handgun, according to arrest warrants.
Parker told deputies that Capnerhurst shot Tammy Parker then attempted to turn the gun on him. But, the defendant said, he was able to pull his own gun and fire first.
Capnerhurst had four bullet wounds, according to the warrants. Authorities have not disclosed how many times Tammy Parker was shot nor the caliber of either weapon.
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