Bradford County homicide investigation
EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — New details are coming to light about a gruesome homicide in Bradford County.
Officials hosted a press conference Monday at the Bradford County Courthouse.
The District Attorney says the death penalty could be appropriate in this case, based on the allegations in the police criminal complaint and affidavit of probable cause.
Last Monday, state troopers were made aware of text messages between 48-year-old Ronda Parker and her estranged husband, 46-year-old Terry Parker.
“Those text messages indicated that someone had been killed, their body disposed of, and attempts were made to conceal and clean a crime scene,” said PSP Criminal Investigation Section Commander Lieutenant Derek Felsman.
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Troopers responded to Ronda’s property off Sawyer Road in Springfield Township. That’s where investigators say the bones of 40-year-old Michael Pruitt were discovered in a smoldering burn pit.
“Our troopers were able to identify three actors involved with this incident and by 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon, our Pennsylvania State Troopers were able to safely have all three actors in custody,” Lieutenant Felsman explained.
Terry, Ronda, and 36-year-old Summer Heil were charged for their alleged roles.
According to the criminal complaint, Terry shot Pruitt while Ronda was holding a one-year-old child.
“In this case, the fact that a one-year-old child was present at the time of the death of Michael Pruitt, that could be an aggravating circumstance to justify the commonwealth seeking the death penalty in this case,” said Bradford County District Attorney Richard Wilson.
Investigators say Terry Parker placed Pruitt in the trunk of his car and drove to Harrisburg with Ronda.
Court papers reveal the pair stopped for ice cream and picked up Heil, who is identified as Terry’s girlfriend, before returning to Springfield Township to dismember and burn Pruitt’s body.
“There are also allegations of purported sexual acts by our victim that were made in the presence of juveniles. That is actively being investigated as we speak,” said Lieutenant Felsman.
The three suspects are due in court next Wednesday.
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