District Attorney Paul Howard Announces Guilty Plea in Beheading & Skinning of Cat

DeWitte Parker Admits to Animal Cruelty, Arson, More; Sentenced to

Atlanta-Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. (Atlanta Judicial Circuit) announces that, following his non-negotiated guilty plea to aggravated cruelty to animals, arson in the third degree, and terroristic acts, defendant DeWitte Parker (47) has been sentenced to a total of 10 years to serve two for a number of unrelated incidents. However, these two years of imprisonment will be commuted to time already served in the Fulton County Jail conditioned upon his entry into an in-patient mental health facility and completion of a prescribed program. Upon satisfactory completion of this treatment, the balance of the sentence will be probated on the condition that he continues to receive psychiatric treatment as prescribed by this facility. The defendant must also at all times maintain his prescription drug regimen and will be allowed no contact of any kind with any animals.

On 15 January 2001, Parker set fire to a grassy area on property near an Atlanta Gas Light Company facility at 3001 Roosevelt Highway. Then, on 8 February 2001, he skinned and beheaded a live cat in full public view along the roadside at 4255 Roosevelt Highway. Finally, on 12 January 2004, before fleeing, he placed a metal canister resembling a possible homemade bomb on a MARTA passenger train at the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport Station, causing the train and the station to be evacuated.

“While the State had asked for five years imprisonment and five years of intensive probation due to the defendant’s violent and escalating pattern of behavior, we are nonetheless relieved that he will be strictly monitored under this sentence for the next several years,” says Mr. Howard. “Clearly, this individual poses a threat in his current condition.”

Senior Assistant District Attorney Laura Jansen prosecuted the case. Marshall English of the District Attorney’s Office investigated, and Magistrate Karen Woodson presided.

CONTACT: Erik Friedly, 404.224.0560 (office); 770.583.6069 (pager); erik.friedly@co.fulton.ga.us