As per the claims made by Montgomery County prosecutors, Michael Parks allegedly fired a .22-caliber rifle at his wife, Hope Parks, striking her in the back of her head. He then proceeded to decapitate her, burying her head in his cellar and disposing of her body close to a bridge spanning over the Sugar Creek. This occurrence occurred in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

As stated in the prosecutor’s affidavit of probable cause, law enforcement discovered a severed body on August 20th at the bridge located on Montgomery County Road 225 West.

Michael Parks, 44, showed up at the Crawfordsville Police Department on 18th August to report that his wife had been missing since they had a fight. Deputies were securing the scene at the bridge where he said the incident took place.

As per the sworn statement, authorities discovered Hope Parks’ mobile phone secured in a secure storage compartment within the couple’s residence, residing at 1011 S. Elm St. In Crawfordsville, on a subsequent date in August. However, the prosecution asserted that Parks made multiple attempts to communicate with his spouse after their altercation, despite her departure with an unidentified individual.

The affidavit mentions Michael Parks’ statements given to the police, which state that after the altercation, Hope Parks hurled her keys and wedding ring at Michael Parks and departed in a white or silver Honda.

Police discovered dried blood on the rear deck, the floor of the garage, and in close proximity to the garage entrance, within the gravel driveway at the residence of the couple.

Police found a spent .22-caliber rifle shell casing in the yard next to a trail of blood droppings, according to the affidavit.

Parks Hope, who was identified as the cause of death in the affidavit, died from a small-caliber wound to the back of her head. The police discovered her severed head buried in the cellar floor.

According to the sworn statement, the authorities discovered a cobalt tarp with blood marks on it that law enforcement suspects was utilized to convey the decapitated corpse of Hope Parks to the bridge where it was discarded.

According to the affidavit, the body has been identified as Hope Parks through an autopsy.

On Monday, Montgomery County prosecutors accused Michael D. Parks of committing homicide.

Based on online court records, the court issued a plea of not guilty on behalf of Parks, and Parks expressed his intention to retain legal counsel at his first hearing on Tuesday.

The trial of Parks is set for Jan. 12 in Montgomery Circuit Court.