Update: Prosecutor Calls Ascot Estates Double-Murder 'Calculated,' 'Cold-Blooded'

Circuit Court Judge DeAndrea Gist Benjamin denied bond for Brett Parker, an Irmo resident charged with the murder of his wife and friend, after prosecutors said he devised a “premeditated” and “cold-blooded” plan to kill his wife and that he would have received more than $1 million if his wife died.

During a bond hearing Thursday morning, Parker stood before Judge Benjamin with his attorneys, David Fedor and Marcus Whitlark, as officials from the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office revealed for the first time what motivated Brett to shoot his wife, Tammy Parker, and friend, Bryan Capnerhurst.

Prosecutor Luck Campbell of the 5^th Circuit Solicitor’s Office said the shooting was a "premeditated, elaborate and cold-blooded" plan to kill 44-year-old Tammy Parker to collect insurance money to pay off about $600,000 in debt.

Campbell said Brett had $100,000 of personal debt and owed about $500,000 on the Parker’s Tackeria Court home in the Ascot Estates subdivision in Irmo.

She said Brett was in position to gain more than $1 million in insurance if his wife died and about $200,000 from Tammy Parker’s 401k plan.

Campbell also said the investigation revealed Brett was involved in at least two extramarital affairs with other women in the four months prior to the April 13 shootings.

On April 13, deputies found Tammy Parker and Capnerhurst, in two different locations of the Parkers' home with multiple gunshot wounds.  

Brett told deputies he was in the bathroom when Capnerhurst arrived at the home and that he told Capnerhurst to go upstairs to the home office where Tammy was.

Shortly after Capnerhurst went upstairs, Brett said he heard multiple gunshots.

Brett told investigators that he went upstairs where Capnerhurst confronted him at gunpoint and ordered him to go to a safe.

Brett told police he had hidden a gun on top of the safe. He said he was able to grab the gun and turn around, and shoot Capnerhurst.

The gun that Parker said was used to shoot Tammy was the pistol he said he had recently given to Capnerhurst, Lott said. 

According to arrest warrants, investigators said Brett shot Tammy Parker and “subsequently manipulated and pre-arranged” for Capnerhurst to visit the home in order to stage a robbery gone awry then shot and killed Capnerhurst.

Campbell said Brett shot Tammy five times — four times in the body and one shot to her head.

She said Brett also shot Capnerhurst with a 4-10 Taurus Judge revolver four times, with the fatal shots to the head and chest.   

Parker’s attorneys maintain that Brett shot Capnerhurst in self-defense but Campbell said evidence shows the murders were part of a premeditated and calculated plan.

Authorities say Brett’s claim has been refuted by a combination of autopsy results, physical evidence at the scene, cell phone records, surveillance video outside the Parker’s home, witness statements and other circumstances and facts found while conducting the investigation.

Lott said Brett told investigators that Capnerhurst came to the home on an arranged visit to pick up $20,000 that Brett owed Capnerhurst from his sports betting (gambling) operation. 

The U.S. Secret Service and the sheriff's department are actively investigating Brett’s gambling operation "as well as other gambling operations that was connected to his,” Lott said during the conference.

Fedor said his client is the victim in this case and should have been given a reasonable bond because he has no criminal record. 

"It's absolutely ridiculous," Fedor told the press after the hearing. "It didn't happen that way."

"He is a victim in this case. The person they should be investigating is the deceased [Bryan] Capnerhurst."

"That is the crux of this matter. They have swayed off another way just to make a case."

Whitlark said the bond denial wasn’t unexpected.

“We expected the bond to be denied at this point,” Whitlark said after the hearing. “Until we get our hands on all the material they’ve gathered in this case we’re not going to be able to hand the court support for granting the bond.”

“We’re going to get a bond in this case because Mr. Brett Parker was a victim in this case and he’s innocent of these charges, and we’re going to prove it.”

As for the claims about the insurance money, Whitlark said “everybody has insurance coverage … everybody has 401k and if that’s a basis for a motive to kill someone then everybody in this county is sitting there with a potential motive to kill." 

Fedor added that debt is “no reason to shoot your wife.”

“Otherwise there will be a lot of wives shot in this country,” he said.

Family and friends of both Brett Parker and Bryan Capnerhurst attended the hearing.

Capnerhurst's stepson said his family has been living in fear since April 13 and that he is concerned for his family's safety. He asked the judge to deny Parker’s bond.

“Getting through each day has been a struggle. Knowing that this person who committed this crime has been out free attending to their daily life intensifies our hardship and fear.”

Parker’s attorneys were given six months to prepare for a re-hearing.

Prosecutors haven’t said if they will seek the death penalty. 

Update:, 10:38 a.m.: Judge DeAndrea Gist Benjamin has denied bond for Brett Parker who was charged with two counts of murder in the killings of his wife and family friend. 

Parker turned himself in to t

During a bond hearing Thursday morning, Parker stood before Judge Benjamin with his attorneys, David Fedor and Marcus Whitlark, as officials from the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office urged the judge to deny bond for Parker because they thought he was a danger to society. 

Solicitor officials said the shooting was a "premedidated, elaborate and cold blooded" plan to kill 44-year-old Tammy Parker.

Officials also said Brett used Bryan Capnerhurst, 46, to cover up his wife's murder. 

Sheriff Leon Lott has said during a press conference last week that Brett's story of self-defense does not match forensic evidence obtained from the Parker's Tackeria Court home in Irmo.

Family and friends of both Parker and Capnerhurst attended the hearing. 

Capnerhurst's stepson said his family has been living in fear since April 13 and that he is concerned for his family's safety. 

Fedor, Parker's attorney, said his client should have been given a reasonable bond because he has no criminal record and that he is the vicitim in the case. 

"It's absolutely ridiculous," Fedor told the press after the hearing. "It didn't happen that way."

"He is a victim in this case. The person they should be investigating is the deceased [Bryan] Capnerhurst."

"That is the crux of this matter. They have swayed off another way just to make a case."

Stay with Patch as we continue to update this story. 

Original, 5:00 a.m.: A bond hearing is scheduled today for Brett Parker, the husband accused of murdering his wife and a family friend.

The hearing will be held at the Richland County Courthouse before the Honorable DeAndrea Gist Benjamin.

Deputies found Tammy, 44, and Capnerhurst, 46, in two different locations of the Parkers' home on Tackeria Court in Irmo.

Police say both were shot multiple times with two different guns owned by Brett.

Sheriff Leon Lott has said during a press conference last week that Brett's story of self-defense does not match forensic evidence. 

Stay with Patch as we continue to update this story.