MORRISDALE – A Morrisdale couple has been arrested on homicide charges in the shooting death of 33-year-old Kodey Parks of Drifting that occurred Saturday, Feb. 24.
Bryan S. Michaelis, 48, and Danielle E. Parks, 37, have also been charged by Clearfield state police with conspiracy-criminal homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and tampering with evidence.
State police say Michaelis called his girlfriend, Danielle Parks, from Clearfield County Jail Feb. 12, threatening that he was “coming back for him (Kodey Parks). One day. One day.”
The affidavit indicates Michaelis was released from custody around 4:48 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23., and picked up by Danielle Parks. They traveled together to an area store where she reportedly purchased a handgun around 6:30 p.m.
On Feb. 24, Kodey Parks reportedly arranged a custody exchange through a third party so he could get his two children from his estranged wife, Danielle Parks, that evening. It was to occur at an Albert Lane residence in Morrisdale.
The last message Kodey Parks sent to the third party indicated he had the children. It was sent at 10:42 p.m., then according to the affidavit, Danielle Parks, made a 911 call reporting a suspected fatal shooting at 11:36 p.m.
Several troopers responded and located Kodey Parks deceased in the second-floor hallway. He had suffered “multiple gunshot wounds to his body,” and was pronounced dead by Chief Deputy Coroner Gilbert Stevenson.
When troopers spoke with Danielle Parks Feb. 25, she claimed that Kodey Parks had followed her inside her father’s residence asking if they could talk and try to work things out between them.
She said he “tackled” her and as he grabbed her hair, she attempted to “army crawl” away from him. Because he wouldn’t stop and she was afraid he was going to “break her neck,” she shot him multiple times.
Danielle Parks said she wasn’t sure if she hit Kodey Parks or not so she ran outside. She got the children from his vehicle and once they were settled watching TV, she called 911.
But, her story changed when she spoke with troopers again Feb. 28.
This time she said Kodey Parks got the children and left but came back after she went inside the residence. She said she ran upstairs and he came up tackling her in the hallway.
Danielle Parks said Michaelis came in and was trying to pull Kodey Parks off her, causing her handgun to fall out of her waistband onto the floor. She said Michaelis picked it up and shot Kodey Parks multiple times.
She got her children from Kodey Parks’ vehicle, and once they were settled watching TV, she said Michaelis took her to another residence where he told her to shoot the weapon so gunshot residue would be on her hands.
Danielle Parks then said she returned to her father’s residence where she called 911.
Further investigation uncovered a text-message that Kodey Parks sent to his third party at 10:32 p.m. Feb. 24, in which Kodey Parks stated: “this smells like a setup.”
State police also learned that surveillance footage was disabled at two residences, and several articles of burnt clothing were discovered in a backyard fire pit at one of the residences.
Surveillance (from the Morris Township building) shows the arrival of a vehicle at the residence around 11:05 p.m. Feb. 24 and its departure around 11:10 p.m., then a visible fire can be seen behind the residence around 11:15 p.m.
Michaelis and Danielle Parks are being held at Clearfield County Jail without bail. A preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for Wednesday, March 6 during centralized court.
