MANGUM - Describing her claim she was a kidnap victim as "far-fetched," Special Judge Brad Leverett this morning ordered Bobbi Parker to trial on a charge of helping convicted killer Randolph Franklin Dial escape from the prison where Parker's husband was a deputy warden.
Bobbi Parker appears at a preliminary hearing Monday. AP Photo
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Parker, 46, is to formally enter a plea on the felony charge on Nov. 6 and faces 10 years in prison if convicted in the trial assigned to District Judge Richard Darby.
"All the evidence obtained out of the Campti, Texas residence tells us they were having a romantic relationship and this was not a kidnapping," Leverett said as he ruled at the conclusion of Parker's preliminary hearing in Greer County.
"Mrs. Parker drove her van away from the prison with Mr. Dial crouched next to her on the floorboard. If Webster had a definition of assisting escape of a prisoner, then I believe that picture would be next to the definition."
Parker and Dial were found living on a chicken farm near Campti on April 4, 2005. Parker returned to her family, and Dial died in prison on June 13, 2007.
Two witnesses were called today for a total of five in the preliminary hearing that started Monday morning. Jack Cowley, former warden at the Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite from which Dial escaped on Aug. 30, 1994 testified, as did Tulsa author Charles Sasser.
Sasser testified that on Nov. 9, 2001, he received a phone call from Dial. He said he spoke for 40 minutes with Dial and a person he believes was Parker. Sasser said his conclusion was "they sounded like an old married couple."
Sasser said he asked the woman if she was alright and she said, "I'm alright, and I'm happy."
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