Written by: Josh Dooley
While the Gary Wayne Parks murder trial ended Monday with his no-contest plea to first-degree murder in the June 2006 death of his stepfather, Dr. David Millstein, the investigation into the slaying continues, according to Lt. Nevin Barnes of the Mountain Home Police Department.
“Gary Parks killed Dr. Millstein,” Barnes told The Bulletin Monday after Parks was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the killing. “During the investigation, we uncovered some facts that indicate someone may have been involved in the planning of the murder.”
Baxter County Prosecutor Ron Kincade recommended to Circuit Judge John Putman that 10 years of Parks’ sentence be suspended if he cooperates with investigators and provides information about any accomplices or co-conspirators he had in Millstein’s murder.
Putman reluctantly agreed to the recommendation.
“The only reason I’m accepting this plea is because of an agreement of full cooperation against potential co-conspirators or accomplices,” Putman said. “That is the reason I’m willing to go along with this.”
A single additional individual has been identified as being potentially involved in the murder, according to Barnes.
“We’re looking at a single suspect at this time. We don’t anticipate others, though that could change if new information came to light,” Barnes said Monday afternoon, declining to name the suspect.
A cold case gets new life
The unnamed suspect could have ties to a murder that occurred in Little Rock almost 20 years ago.Gary Parks’ biological father, Luther Gerald “Jerry” Parks, was killed Sept. 26, 1993. Jerry Parks was driving on Chenal Parkway on the outskirts of Little Rock when another vehicle pulled up beside him.
A witness stated he heard gunshots, and then the second vehicle pulled away at a high rate of speed, according to a police report.
Several 9mm shell casings were found at the scene, Barnes said, noting the murder has never been solved and the Little Rock Police Department investigation into the crime remains open.
“We have been in contact with Little Rock Police as recently as last week,” Barnes said. “I think they consider the same person a potential suspect in that case as we consider an additional suspect in the Millstein murder.”
Jerry Parks owned a security business that provided protection for the campaign headquarters of President Bill Clinton when he first ran for president.
After Jerry Parks’ death, his wife, Lois Jane Parks, who later married Dr. David Millstein, inherited a significant amount of money along with a business, according to Barnes.
After Millstein’s death, Lois Jane Parks Millstein received $500,000 from a life insurance policy taken out on Millstein, according to court documents.
Gary Parks eventually will be transferred from the Baxter County jail to a facility within the Arkansas Department of Corrections system. Barnes said he hopes investigators get to speak with Parks about any potential accomplice prior to that expected transfer.
“We want to do this as quick as possible,” Barnes said.
Barnes has spent almost seven years working on the Millstein murder, and while he said he was relieved to see Parks go to prison, he was not entirely satisfied with the outcome.
“Personally, I didn’t feel it was enough,” Barnes said of the sentence Parks received. “But, I also understand why the prosecutor did what he did. I respect him and stand with him.”
Parks will have to serve a total of 15 years before he is eligible for parole, according to Kincade. Parks already has served a little more than three years in the Baxter County jail awaiting trial. With Putman granting him credit for time already served, Parks could spend as little as slightly less than 12 years in prison for Millstein’s murder.
