Uintah County man reportedly tries to murder stepson with hunting rifle

Posted by Travis Uresk | Jan. 19th, 2023 | Attempted Murder |

by Danielle MacKimm

1/19/23

LAPOINT, Utah — A man out of Lapoint, Utah is facing several felony charges after police said he admitted to trying to kill his stepson using a hunting rifle and threatening to kill his wife.

David Michael Parker, 50, is facing one second degree felony count of murder, one second degree felony count of burglary, one third degree felony count of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person as well as one count of intoxication, a class C misdemeanor after he reportedly ripped open a safe using what appeared to be a grinding wheel to gain custody of a Marlin 22 long rifle that he took into his step son's camper and tried to murder him with.

An investigation into this case began Wednesday when deputies with the Uintah County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the Lapoint Saw Mill at 6624 North 9500 East on a report of an assault. According to police records, Parker had called in to dispatch "stating that he had just attempted to kill his stepson... and had threated to kill his wife."

Law enforcement met Parker at the Liberty Corner store where he reportedly said he would wait for officers, adding that he would not harm officers, was willing to surrender and had been drinking.

Deputies said that Parker was compliant and was taken into custody without issue.

When asked what had occurred that night, Parker reportedly stated "my attitude problem," adding that he tried to kill his stepson with a 22 long rifle and threated to kill his wife because they "had stolen everything he owned and registered his car in his wife's name while he had been in jail."

According to police records, Parker's stepson told deputies that Parker had come into his camper and pointed a 22 long rifle at him, to which he grabbed the barrel and pushed it upward and away from him. The two reportedly began wrestling over the gun before the stepson was able to push Parker off of him and flee the camper.

In speaking to Parker's wife, Uintah County authorities said they learned she and Parker had gotten into a verbal argument earlier that day because Parker was under the impression that she had forged the title on his car to get it registered.

Upon a search of Parker's residence, deputies reportedly located a Marlin 22 long rifle with a scope and woodstock sitting on the couch in the living room. Law enforcement officials said they learned that the gun had previously been locked in a safe that Parker's wife held the keys to. Deputies said they observed that the safe appeared to have been sawed opened with what had seemed to be a grinding wheel.

When asked to give an official statement on the matter, Parker reportedly told deputies that it was his intent to kill his stepson, and that he "was actually going to wait until the morning when [his wife] got home and the same damn thing to her."

Parker was booked into the Uintah County Jail on the charges previously listed.

Related Article:

Lapoint Man Assaults Woman Over Not Asking If He Needed Anything When She Went To Town

https://www.1nationjustice.com/post/lapoint-man-assaults-woman-over-not-asking-if-he-needed-anything-when-she-went-to-town

Lapoint, Ut.- 11/8/22 Deputy Roth met with the victim at Shirley’s Convenience Store. She told the Deputy the night before, she had gotten into a fight With David Michael Parker.