“Death penalty could be appropriate in this case,” Bradford County DA provides more information into Springfield Twp homicide
TOWANDA, Pa. (WETM) — The death penalty is an option for those involved in a homicide case in Bradford County the district attorney said on Monday after the death and dismemberment of a man in early March.
According to the Bradford County District Attorney, Richard Wilson, on Monday, March 18, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania could pursue the death penalty for Ronda Parker and Terry Parker if the proper aggravating circumstances were found in the killing death of Michael Pruitt.
“Pennsylvania law does allow for the death penalty,” Wilson said during the conference, “the death penalty is something that would be, potentially, based on the allegations you may have read in the police criminal complaint and affidavit of probable cause, the death penalty could be appropriate in this case,” he said.
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Wilson added that a single aggravating circumstance is needed to require the justification of the death penalty under Pennsylvania law.
Wilson said that since a one-year-old child was allegedly present in the room when Pruitt was killed, that could be an aggravating circumstance to justify the death penalty.
A decision has not been made on whether the death penalty will be pursued or not, with Wilson saying he has to value all of the factors before making a decision. Wilson clarified that the decision is expected to come after the preliminary hearing but before the formal arraignment.
During the news conference, it was learned that Ronda Parker and Terry Parker are still legally married, but separated and that one of the two, or both, have some form of criminal history, but this was not explained in detail by Wilson.
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Wilson said that as of now there are no signs of drug use other than what was admitted in the affidavit by Summer Heil claiming she was high on meth at the time of the dismemberment.
Information was brought up regarding Pruitt and the allegations that he exposed himself to Ronda Parker’s children with Lieutenant Derek Felman saying that this is something that state police are investigating.
Felman said that actions reported against Pruitt have not been previously reported on at any other time to any law enforcement agency or Childline.
Police reiterated that on Monday, March 11, troopers were made aware that a death had taken place at a residence on Sawyer Road in Springfield Township and after a day of investigation, Terry Parker, Ronda Parker, and Summer Heil were all taken into custody by the afternoon for the killing of Michael Pruitt.
Wilson said the three are expected to appear in Troy for their preliminary hearing on March 27, at 2 p.m.
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