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SPANISH FORK — Spanish Fork police say they are waiting for results from the Utah State Crime Lab before screening potential criminal charges against a man accused of killing his mother and stepfather.
In the meantime, a judge has ordered Tryston Robert Erickson, 26, to remain in custody in Grand County, Colorado, on $400,000 cash bond for crimes allegedly committed in that state while trying to avoid arrest.
On March 14, Spanish Fork police were called to conduct a welfare check on Timothy Parker, 58, and his wife, Jeannie Parker, 50, after Timothy Parker had failed to show up for work for a couple of days. Inside the house, 1419 S. 2250 East, officers found the couple's body. Both had been shot, according to police.
Tyrston Erickson was named a person of interest in the case. Jeannie Parker's car and cellphone were both missing from the residence. 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 vehicle in Kremmling.
A chase ensued on U.S. 40 that started near Hot Sulphur Springs and ended in Fraser, a distance of about 25 miles, according to the Sky-Hi News in Granby, Colorado, Tyrston Erickson was arrested for investigation of 11 criminal charges, including vehicular eluding and aggravated motor vehicle theft.
An arraignment was held March 16 in 14th Judicial District Court. During the hearing, Chief Deputy District Attorney Kathryn Dowdell noted that Erickson, "is the key suspect in the murdering of his mother and stepfather in a very brutal fashion," according to the newspaper.
As for the crimes allegedly committed in Colorado while trying to avoid arrest, Dowdell said, "This is probably the most aggravated case of vehicular eluding that Grand County has seen," Sky-Hi News reported.
Erickson is accused of going 84 mph in a 65 mph zone in Hot Sulpher Springs, going 60 mph in a 30 mph zone in Granby, and forcing other cars off the road. The chase came to end after a deputy used a patrol car to crash into Erickson's vehicle to stop him. A gun was recovered during Erickson's arrest.
His next court hearing in Colorado is scheduled for April 4.
