Opening statements in Parks trial

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By: Ray Dean Davis

After spending much of the day selecting a jury of six men and six women, along with three alternate jurors, opening statements were presented this afternoon in the felony capital murder case of Gary Wayne Parks in Baxter County Circuit Court.

The 42-year-old Parks is charged in connection with the June, 2006, stabbing death of his stepfather, Mountain Home urologist Dr. David Millstein.

The trial is expected to continue all of this week and likely into next week. Ray Dean Davis reports on today's events.

In his opening statements, Prosecutor Ron Kincade told jurors they would hear some offensive testimony and see disturbing photographs during the trial. He said the victim was stabbed multiple times while in bed at his home on the east side of Mountain Home on or about June 16th, 2006, and in addition an attempt was made to burn the body and the house.

Kincade said there was no forced entry into the house and robbery was not the motive.
He said the victim and his wife, Lois Jane Parks--who is the mother of Gary Wayne Parks-- had been having money trouble. He also said Gary Parks' mother was, and is, his only means of support.

According to Kincade, Gary Parks thought Dr. Millstein was straining his mother financially and had told the victim things were going to change.

The prosecutor said Millstein had told people that Gary Parks had roughed him up and manhandled him and Millstein was considering buying a gun for protection.

Kincade said testimony will show that Parks had the opportunity and motive to kill his stepfather, including a half-million-dollar life insurance policy payable to Lois Jane Parks. He said Parks became a suspect immediately after the discovery of Millstein's body.

In his remarks, Defense Attorney Danny Glover said the defense will show a case of "frustrated police." He said investigators focused on Gary Parks, while a better suspect was Lois Jane Parks. Glover said Jane Parks' first husband, Gerald Parks, was also victim of a homicide, a shooting death that has not yet been solved.

Glover said there were signs of recent sexual activity found at the scene of Millstein's murder. He also pointed out that Jane Parks received a substantial amount of money from Millstein's death and said that at one time she told someone she killed Millstein.

Glover said he'll show that investigators rushed to a conclusion when they charged Gary Wayne Parks.

The defense lists a total of 51 potential witnesses in the case, although not all of them are likely to be called. The prosecution lists 42 possible witnesses. Circuit Judge John Putman is presiding over the case.

If found guilty, Parks could receive a sentence of life in prison without parole.

Testimony is expected to begin at 9 a.m. tomorrow.