Police say Spanish Fork couple was shot to death; adult son considered person of interest

SPANISH FORK — A Spanish Fork couple found dead in their home were both shot to death, police said Wednesday.

Investigators confirmed the bodies of Timothy Parker, 58, and his wife, Jeannie Parker, 50, were found in their home Tuesday after officers were called to conduct a welfare check. Tryston Robert Erickson, 26, who is Jeannie Parker's son and Timothy Parker's stepson, is being called a "person of interest" in the case. He was arrested in Grand County, Colorado, Tuesday after leading police on a chase. He is being held for investigation of charges related to that incident.

Spanish Fork police arrived in Colorado on Wednesday to question Erickson about the double homicide.

The investigation began about 12:20 p.m. Tuesday when Spanish Fork police were asked to check on the Parkers after Timothy Parker had failed to show up to work for a couple of days. Spanish Fork Police Lt. Cory Slaymaker said Timothy Parker had been at work on Saturday and returned home Saturday afternoon, which is the last known sighting of him.

After no one answered the door at the home, 1419 S. 2250 East, officers found an unlocked window about 1:45 p.m. and entered the home, where the bodies were discovered.

Erickson, who also lived in the house, was immediately named a person of interest. According to police, a vehicle was missing from the residence, as well as Jeannie Parker's cellphone. Her phone was "pinged" by detectives, who determined it was near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Deputies with the Grand County Sheriff's Office in Colorado were notified and located the missing vehicle about 5 p.m. near Kremmling, Colorado.

Deputies in Colorado became involved in a chase with Erickson after attempting to pull him over, according to a statement from Spanish Fork police. He was taken into custody at the end of the pursuit.

In February, Jeannie Parker posted a message on social media asking for help finding her son, who briefly went missing after walking away from his house with no phone. She later posted that her son had been found.

Court records show Erickson has struggled with substance abuse in recent years. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle, a third-degree felony; and causing an accident involving property damage and driving on a suspended license, class B misdemeanors. In that case, he was accused of stealing his father's vehicle, crashing into a home and then leaving the scene while impaired. He was sentenced to serve up to five years in prison.

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