CATAWBA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA: Tangela Louise Parker, 52, formally entered a guilty plea on Thursday, September 28, for one count of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Phelifia Michelle Marlow, 51, in 2021 in North Carolina.
The woman has confessed to the murder of her former colleague, which was motivated by a trivial workplace dispute. She then evaded capture for six months, according to authorities.
In response to the plea, Haywood County Superior Court Judge Bradley B Letts imposed a sentence of 20 to 25 years in a state correctional facility.
Chief prosecutor addresses Parker's ruthless act
The Catawba County District Attorney's Office issued a press release, in which Chief Assistant District Attorney Tim Gould addressed the calculated and ruthless nature of Parker's crime.
“The way (Parker) used (the revolver) gave this victim no chance,” Gould told the court. “It’s not just a murder, it’s an execution. You see the hurt she has caused this family, this community,” according to Law&Crime.
Following the imposition of the sentence, Judge Letts addressed a substantial group of the victim's family and friends who had gathered at the courthouse, seeking justice years after the tragic shooting claimed the life of the mother of two.
“Michelle [Marlow] did nothing wrong. It’s with a heavy heart I tell you that bad things, unspeakable things, happen to good people. I wish that were not the case. Nothing that happened was deserved by Michelle [Marlow],” he said.
“There’s nothing I can say today to assuage you of your loss. I cannot fill the holes in your hearts. Seeing you here today lets me know one thing: She knew only love and support from you for 51 years. Many folks don’t have that. She did, and that’s because of you,” he added.
Victim's husband recounts workplace dispute
Michelle's husband Justin Marlow informed investigators that his wife had engaged in a minor dispute with Parker the week before the murder.
The argument reportedly arose from a disagreement over rearranging tables in their workspace at TCS Designs, a furniture company. As a consequence, Tangela Parker was suspended from work for three days without pay.
Witnesses who were present before the shooting recounted that Parker had become extremely agitated and used offensive language when addressing Marlow.
Several employees took notice of Parker's behavior and reported the incident to the plant manager.
They alleged that Parker had initiated the confrontation, while Marlow had responded to her outbursts in a restrained manner, as described by prosecutors.
“The deadly shooting occurred during the workday in front of numerous eyewitnesses at TCS Design in Hickory, where both women were employed,” prosecutors wrote in the release. “The defendant went to the area where the victim was working and shot her in the chest with a .357 Magnum revolver. Marlow turned and tried to run, but Parker shot her in the back of the head.”
Upon receiving the call, officers from the Hickory Police Department and Catawba County Emergency Medical Services promptly arrived at the location.
There, they discovered Marlow lying on the floor in a pool of blood. She later died in a hospital.
It has to be noted that Eric Parker, the spouse of Tangela Parker, was also an employee at TCS and was present at the plant when the incident unfolded.
Subsequent to the fatal shooting, the Parkers fled the state and remained absconding for six months.
In an attempt to evade law enforcement, they assumed false identities, adopting the names Jason and Elizabeth Reardon and utilizing a stolen license plate.
However, in July 2021, they were apprehended in Arizona on fugitive warrants.
Daughter's heartfelt tribute to Michelle
During Thursday's plea hearing, the murder weapon, which was discovered in the vehicle the Parkers used while on the run, was presented as evidence in court.
Furthermore, the impact of Marlow's murder was conveyed through ten victim impact statements.
Among those who shared their experiences was Marlow's daughter, Makayla Marlow.
“There’s not enough time in the world for me to express who she was,” Makayla said of her mother.
“January 13, 2021, was the day I lost my best friend, my rock, my certified support system," she added. "She was the human form of goodness and peace. Her life was violently ripped from her. While I’m grateful for every second I got with her, I’m angry she was taken away. The time I spent with her was nowhere long enough.”
Eric Parker is currently in custody and has been charged with one count of being an accessory to murder after the crime has been committed. He has entered a plea of not guilty and is currently awaiting trial.
