Midlands, South Carolina bookie Brett Parker was sentenced to life in prison this week for the Ascot Murders – a pair of shooting deaths in an upscale suburban neighborhood that police originally thought was a home invasion.
Well, before this website revealed the truth about what really happened …
Police were called to the $750,000 Ascot Estates home of Brett and Tammy Parker last April to investigate a reported home invasion. Inside they found the bodies of 44-year-old Tammy (a local musician and sales representative for Novartis) and 46-year-old Bryan Capnerhurst (who was described initially by the press as an acquaintance of the Parkers).
Both victims had multiple gunshot wounds to their upper bodies.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) initially told local media that the twin shootings were the result of an attempted robbery – operating under the assumption that Brett Parker shot and killed Capnerhurst with a gun kept in his safe after Capnerhurst shot and killed his wife. And of course the local media ran with that story.
It turned out to be completely inaccurate, though …
As FITS reported exclusively the day after the shootings, Brett Parker was a sports bookie – and Capnerhurst was in business with him. According to our sources, the bloody shootings stemmed from “a heated business-related argument,” not an attempted robbery. Our follow-up report on the case shed even more light on the role Parker’s gambling debts played in the double homicide.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been repeatedly contacted by multiple individuals asking us to remove our posts on the Ascot Murders. These sources told us Brett Parker was about to be vindicated, and that the information we posted about him in our reporting was going to be proven false.
Yeah … not so much. The Richland County jury took less than three hours to find Parker guilty of both murders. His life sentence does not include the possibility of parole, although he does have ten days to decide whether to appeal the verdict.
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62 comments
Did they have to haul him off via ambulance in tears when they read the verdict, too?
The poor fellow suffers from “Panic Attacks” which is in vogue with the teenager crowd in particular these days.
I wonder how many “Panic Attacks” he will have in prison? Or will he man up?
He can have as many “Panic Attacks” (crying fits) as he wants and no one will care.
he’ll find a nice caring assfucker in prison,and get the love he needs…someone will ‘care’ …
Did they have to haul him off via ambulance in tears when they read the verdict, too?
The poor fellow suffers from “Panic Attacks” which is in vogue with the teenager crowd in particular these days.
I wonder how many “Panic Attacks” he will have in prison? Or will he man up?
He can have as many “Panic Attacks” (crying fits) as he wants and no one will care.
he’ll find a nice caring assfucker in prison,and get the love he needs…someone will ‘care’ …
Very fast verdict. Not surprising though. As a wise old sage once said “he’s as guilty
as horseshit is stinky”.
The dramatic acting job didn’t work.
Very fast verdict. Not surprising though. As a wise old sage once said “he’s as guilty
as horseshit is stinky”.
The dramatic acting job didn’t work.
While it appears that prosecutors had plenty of evidence to convict, I am concerned about how jurors approached their decision. The State interviewed several, and they all said that the defense didn’t do enough to prove that Parker was innocent. It is scary that the burden was shifted to the defendant in the minds of these people. The presumption should always be towards innocence with the prosecution having to prove something.
There were over 300 potential jurors pulled for the lawyers to choose from. The defense had opportunity to choose smart jurors or dumb jurors.
The prosecution did their homework and law enforcement did a surprisingly remarkable job collecting evidence. The defense team was below par despite the fact that they had little to work with their brat boy client. They are just two low rate good old boy Columbia brand clown lawyers. They made me physically ill to look at and listen to. I bet they put Brett up to pitching his fits at such opportune times. If this is the best Columbia has in terms of defense, I plan to be very careful and never need Columbia defense attorney services. They should have never put his daughter on the stand – this is further proof of how low they are.
Brett’s got to CHOOSE his legal team. Tammy and Capnerhurst did not have that luxury. There ARE better defense attorneys around here. Brett’s choice of defense attorneys shows how stupid and unsophisticated he is.
What did he pay them with – IOUs?
I am sure any defense attorney would salivate to have this case for nothing more than the notoriety and free advertisement, ie. 48Hours T.V. show.
A public defender would have been a better choice than those dipshits he chose.
Brett was so arrogant and so accustomed to getting away with everything, he probably didn’t feel he had to come up with the cash for decent lawyers.
I was on a jury where a guy was defending himself against a speeding ticket. He put is 12 year old daughter (who was the only passenger) on the stand. It was pitiful and sad to see her subjected to his stupid questions.
The defense should have been censured for suborning perjury which is what they did when they put that brat on the stand to lie. At least they could have coached her a bit better if they expected anyone to believe what she said. And Brett’s sad attempts to convince the jury he was devastated and hysterical were laughable.
You clearly don’t understand how jury selection works, xx.
Actually what they said was that the defense, in opening statements, promised to provide solid evidence and expert testimony to refute the prosecutions claims and that they never delivered on that promise. Given, the two that I heard sounded like they “was a munching on mahbles” while being interviewed, this was what they said.
Maybe, but the defense has to put on SOME kind of case that is comparable to that of the prosecution in depth or to at least counter the strong prosecution case. It’s not their fault, they had little to work with as their client was so obviously guilty from day one.
While it appears that prosecutors had plenty of evidence to convict, I am concerned about how jurors approached their decision. The State interviewed several, and they all said that the defense didn’t do enough to prove that Parker was innocent. It is scary that the burden was shifted to the defendant in the minds of these people. The presumption should always be towards innocence with the prosecution having to prove something.
There were over 300 potential jurors pulled for the lawyers to choose from. The defense had opportunity to choose smart jurors or dumb jurors.
The prosecution did their homework and law enforcement did a surprisingly remarkable job collecting evidence. The defense team was below par despite the fact that they had little to work with their brat boy client. They are just two low rate good old boy Columbia brand clown lawyers. They made me physically ill to look at and listen to. I bet they put Brett up to pitching his fits at such opportune times. If this is the best Columbia has in terms of defense, I plan to be very careful and never need Columbia defense attorney services. They should have never put his daughter on the stand – this is further proof of how low they are.
Brett’s got to CHOOSE his legal team. Tammy and Capnerhurst did not have that luxury. There ARE better defense attorneys around here. Brett’s choice of defense attorneys shows how stupid and unsophisticated he is.
What did he pay them with – IOUs?
I am sure any defense attorney would salivate to have this case for nothing more than the notoriety and free advertisement, ie. 48Hours T.V. show.
I was on a jury where a guy was defending himself against a speeding ticket. He put his 12 year old daughter (who was the only passenger) on the stand. It was pitiful and sad to see her subjected to his stupid questions.
You clearly don’t understand how jury selection works, xx.
Actually what they said was that the defense, in opening statements, promised to provide solid evidence and expert testimony to refute the prosecutions claims and that they never delivered on that promise. Given, the two that I heard sounded like they “was a munching on mahbles” while being interviewed, this was what they said.
I feel sorry for his kids
Is it true that the kids didn’t even live with Brett and Tammy?
I feel sorry for his kids
Is it true that the kids didn’t even live with Brett and Tammy?
Why do Parker’s kids live with the bookie grandparents? Why does the state not get involved and place them with a relative who is not committing felonies?
Probably because they like jet skis and wads of cash more than they like humble Christians. Kids are gullable that way.
The jet skis and wads of cash won’t be there once the Feds are through.
Why do Parker’s kids live with the bookie grandparents? Why does the state not get involved and place them with a relative who is not committing felonies?
Probably because they like jet skis and wads of cash more than they like humble Christians. Kids are gullable that way.
The jet skis and wads of cash won’t be there once the Feds are through.
The Jack/Brett Parker clan are just a shady bunch. From jury tampering attempts to trying to curry favor with Sheriff Lott to sacrificing a 14 yr old already traumatized girl on the witness stand. Their actions are just shameful. So the Ascot and Lake Murray houses built on gambling money will fall. As it should be when one builds one’s house upon the sand.
Sympathies to Tammy’s family, the Capnerhurst family, And the Parker children. And any grandparent who thinks it was a good idea for their granddaughter to sit in that courtroom and also lie under oath shouldn’t be raising those children.
The Jack/Brett Parker clan are just a shady bunch. From jury tampering attempts to trying to curry favor with Sheriff Lott to sacrificing a 14 yr old already traumatized girl on the witness stand. Their actions are just shameful. So the Ascot and Lake Murray houses built on gambling money will fall. As it should be when one builds one’s house upon the sand.
Sympathies to Tammy’s family, the Capnerhurst family, And the Parker children. And any grandparent who thinks it was a good idea for their granddaughter to sit in that courtroom and also lie under oath shouldn’t be raising those children.
On the whole the most telling part of the entire trial was that Lott agreed to meet with the suspect 5 – F I V E – times prior to him being charged. Seeing how the suspect and his father are currently under indictment on Federal charges is it too much to suspect that these meetings (some or all) may have been witnessed by the Feds prompting the sheriff to testify in open court that he attended the meetings? It certainly speaks to preferential treatment unless you think that all double murderers can get an audience with the sheriff at a local ball park. Oh well, all is well that ends well, I guess. Do they have the money for an appeal? Unlikely if they shot their best wad with Fedor and Whitlark.
I found it odd also. But give Leon’s appetite for media attention it’s not suprising. Im sure he dreamed of a confession so he could hold a press conference and wear his general uniform.
Having said that I would think it is highly improper for the “general” to meet privately (5 times) with the main suspect in a double homicide.
What would be odd is if the sheriff refused to meet with the prime suspect in a high profile murder case when the suspect calls him and requests to meet. What kind of sheriff would say no? That would be very odd indeed.
Lott is friends with Jack Parker
Why? Is he a gambler?
On the whole the most telling part of the entire trial was that Lott agreed to meet with the suspect 5 – F I V E – times prior to him being charged. Seeing how the suspect and his father are currently under indictment on Federal charges is it too much to suspect that these meetings (some or all) may have been witnessed by the Feds prompting the sheriff to testify in open court that he attended the meetings? It certainly speaks to preferential treatment unless you think that all double murderers can get an audience with the sheriff at a local ball park. Oh well, all is well that ends well, I guess. Do they have the money for an appeal? Unlikely if they shot their best wad with Fedor and Whitlark.
I found it odd also. But give Leon’s appetite for media attention it’s not suprising. Im sure he dreamed of a confession so he could hold a press conference and wear his general uniform.
Having said that I would think it is highly improper for the “general” to meet privately (5 times) with the main suspect in a double homicide.
What would be odd is if the sheriff refused to meet with the prime suspect in a high profile murder case when the suspect calls him and requests to meet. What kind of sheriff would say no? That would be very odd indeed.
Lott is friends with Jack Parker
Why? Is he a gambler?
While neither individual may have deserved to be murdered, lets don’t paint the victims as saints. They both knew the business they were in and dealing. The old saying is “you fuck with the bull, you get the horn”. Brett killed them. They didn’t deserve to be murdered. But to portray them as wonderful people is a stretch. Tammy and Bryan were involved in illegal gambling and shady individuals. Tammy chose to stay in a loveless marriage because the money was there. Bryan (whom I had dealt with in sports) apparently had a dark side. The children of both are the victims here.
Tammy was making 6 figures in her job; she would have been better off financially without her greedy husband getting her paws on his money. And because Bryan was involved in gambling, you think it’s OK that he was murdered? And OK that he was made to look like an evil killer? You need to educate yourself before you make idiotic statements.
While neither individual may have deserved to be murdered, lets don’t paint the victims as saints. They both knew the business they were in and dealing. The old saying is “you fuck with the bull, you get the horn”. Brett killed them. They didn’t deserve to be murdered. But to portray them as wonderful people is a stretch. Tammy and Bryan were involved in illegal gambling and shady individuals. Tammy chose to stay in a loveless marriage because the money was there. Bryan (whom I had dealt with in sports) apparently had a dark side. The children of both are the victims here.
The people in this part of town are naive and stupid. They probably really think Brett was innocent. They also think Lanny Gunter is a hero and did nothing wrong.
The people in this part of town are naive and stupid. They probably really think Brett was innocent. They also think Lanny Gunter is a hero and did nothing wrong.
The idiot daughter should have been prosecuted for perjury; neither she nor her father are very good actors. She has to be the worst liar I’ve ever seen. His lame attempts to “cry” and his obviously fake hysterics were hilarious to watch. And now the daughter is living with HIS parents who will keep up the propaganda until those kids will blame everybody BUT their old man. I hope one day they’re mature enough to realize that their father is a stone cold killer who cares nothing about them.