Daniel Parker, 37, acquitted after killing his 78-year-old mother claiming the devil influenced his actions.
The High Court heard police forced entry on May 21, 2024, at 9:33 AM. Other officers arrived at 9:05 AM. Paramedics had been there since 8:45 AM. They heard women screaming inside the house.
Judge Lady Ross heard Parker had mental health problems. He shot at his sister and a neighbor. Parker thought his family betrayed him. He believed his life was like the “Truman Show,” where a man’s life is a TV show.
Parker thought his mom was poisoning his food. He also believed cameras watched him. The prosecutor, Margaret Barron, described the scene. Paramedics knocked, but no one answered; they heard screams.
The paramedics requested police and fire assistance and waited outside. Police arrived at 9:05 AM. Parker’s sister said he shot their mother and that Parker possessed a crossbow.
A piercing scream came from inside, lasting about ten seconds. At 9:15 AM, Parker yelled at police, saying they would die because of them. Firearms officers arrived at 9:33 AM.
They forced entry through the back door and found Daniel Parker in a cupboard. He stated he was unarmed. Mrs. Parker lay unresponsive on her bed. A bolt was in her hand and back; she had a neck wound.
Police handcuffed Parker, and he said he wanted to die. He mentioned cameras watching him relating to his belief cameras were everywhere. At 9:48 AM, they arrested Parker.
He was charged with attempted murder. Informed of his rights, he said he was guilty, stating, “I did this because of the devil.” Police performed CPR on Mrs. Parker, and paramedics then entered. She was pronounced dead at 9:57 AM.
Parker, a patient at the State Hospital, was acquitted. He was found not guilty of murder and of attempting to murder his sister and neighbour. He was also cleared of possessing a stun gun.
The Crown accepted the not guilty pleas. Psychiatrists said his mental state impaired him, so he couldn’t understand his actions. Parker was diagnosed with a personality disorder in 2021, and doctors noted “paranoid personality traits.”
Parker moved in with his mom in February 2023, and his mental health declined since then. He stopped taking his medication and had a delusion people were after him, a delusion that led to his paranoia.
He thought cameras were in the house and that his mother was poisoning him. On May 21, 2024, his sister came to help. At 7:50 AM, Parker pointed a crossbow at her.
He demanded she tell him what was happening. For ten minutes, he said wild things accusing her of trying to kill him and a gang was after him, believing she was involved.
During the incident, he shot his sister, the bolt struck her, but it did not penetrate deeply. He shot his neighbor, Sarah Manifold, and fired a crossbow at his mother, Margaret Parker. The bolt struck her torso.
Then, his sister escaped the home and heard another bolt fired. She heard her mother scream. Daniel Parker shot his mother multiple times and stabbed her in the neck and torso.
His sister called her daughter who called emergency services, she screamed while on the phone. Police took Parker to the police station where he was interviewed with a lawyer and an “appropriate adult.”
Parker mostly stayed silent, but made some admissions. He said his family betrayed him and his life was a lie, like the “Truman Show”. He claimed he was being gang stalked and expressed wanting to die.
Parker was admitted to the State Hospital on May 23, 2024. An autopsy found wounds on his mom’s neck, a bolt wound to her neck, and eleven bolt wounds to her torso, besides other injuries.
Mrs. Parker was a “much loved grandmother.” Besides minor health problems, she was healthy. The judge acquitted Parker of the charges and ordered him to receive treatment.
She said he was acquitted due to his mental state. The judge extended the matter for ten weeks, and Parker will return to court on May 14, 2025. The court will then decide the final outcome.