Marie Warren Case

Lapeer County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Parks, retired Genesee County Detective Gerald Parks and Lapeer County Prosecuting Attorney Byron Konschuh go over information related to the unsolved case. Gerald Parks, Gary's uncle, has joined the hunt to find and prosecute the killer of Marie Warren.

Photo by MIKE MERCIER

DEERFIELD TWP — A retired Genesee County Sheriff's Department deputy has joined the hunt to bring a grandmother's killer to justice.

Gerald Parks, who spends his time sifting through cold cases, is channeling his legendary skills to put the murderers of Marie Warren behind bars.

Warren, 86, of Deerfield Township, was brutally slain in her own home. The killers beat the well-known farmer to death and robbed her Sept. 30, 2006. Her mutilated body was dumped in a ditch and found the next day. The killers severed her eight fingers and two thumbs after killing her. The detached body parts have never been found.

Since her death, Lapeer County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Parks, Gerald's nephew, has been searching for the "monsters." His office has been flooded with calls, and he and the staff have been following up on numerous tips and leads. Parks believes he can even name the culprits, but needs more evidence to make an arrest.

The older Parks volunteered to step in and breathe new life into the investigation. The retiree, who devotes his days to solving cold cases, works for $1 a month from an office in Lapeer Township.

"We're glad to have him," said Gary. "He's a hard charger and works hard. He won't work on anything else until this is solved."

Most of the leads they've received so far point to Genesee County. And the elder Park's contacts in the county are proving invaluable.

"We're glad to have one man focusing his entire attention on the homicide," said Lapeer County Prosecuting attorney Byron Konschuh. "We've found a single gray hair in a car truck that has links to a suspect. We're waiting for test results."

Gerald, who credits his success to God, has put more than one Genesee County cold case butcher in prison. He hopes to do the same for his native county.

"This is a very complicated case, and a lot depends on what is done with what we find," said Gerald. "We have new technology, and new methods."

"It's hard to be patient, but yet it's not," Brace said. "But when they take this to court, I want the killers convicted. I have faith in Gary, and now his uncle. I don't want to pressure them, because I want it done right."

Gerald, who grew up in Columbiaville, graduated from the first class in LakeVille High School. He comes from what many call a "crime fighting family."

His now deceased brother Kenneth Parks was the Lapeer County Sheriff for 21 years. Kenneth's son is Lt. Gary Parks and Gary's son is Sgt. Jason Parks of the Lapeer County Sheriff's Department. Gerald's son is Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. Joe Parks, and his daughter is Flint City Police D/Sgt Sharon Dunbar.

Gerald takes each unsolved murder personally. After Warren's killers are convicted, he intends to work on a 34-year-old Lapeer County cold case that haunts him.

"Dr. Jim Richardson's son Jimmy, who was in his 20s, was beat to death in the doctor's house in Columbiaville on March 2, 1974," said Gerald. "The doctor was a great guy, and because of him I played ball. The doctor died a year ago, and his wife is alive still. I hope to not let one more anniversary go by without it being solved."

Citizens have reached into their own pockets to offer an incentive to those who can help bring Warren's murderers to justice. That reward has climbed to $15,000, said Konschuh.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lapeer County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Parks at 245-1382.