It took Kay County District Judge D. W. Boyd 30 minutes in chambers Thursday to find 86-year-old Winfield, Kan. resident, Harley Bruce Parsons, guilty of shooting his wife, Barbara, with the intent of killing her on Sept. 14. He was sentenced to 25 years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
Parsons waived his right to a jury on Wednesday following testimony that described him as a former General Electric leer jet mechanic with bad grammar that may or may not be suffering from mental disorders.
Thursday Parsons took the stand and described the events of Sept. 14.
“We got out of bed as usual,” said Parsons. “Barbara fixed breakfast and put some clothes in the dryer. After breakfast I went to the bathroom and then to the garage. I asked her if she wanted to go to Ponca City and she said yeah. We would sometimes go to Ponca City and stop at the ice cream store. I could get a burger there I liked. We would also get gas for the lawn mowers. So I got the gas cans and helped her hang clothes. We didn’t argue. We were happy-go-lucky and ready to have a good time on our trip to Ponca City.”
Parsons told the court that he took a wrong turn by the Marland Mansion but turned around and traveled to another street but he wasn’t sure of the name.
The area he traveled to was the 800 block of Sugar Maple.
“I wanted to stop and get a handful of nuts,” said Parsons. “When I undid the seatbelt the gun fell out between her and I.”
Parsons told the court he had put the gun in the car a few days earlier with the intent of shooting a squirrel he had caught. He said he routinely used squirrels for target practice.
“When the gun fell out I knew I needed to abide by the law,” said Parsons. “I raised it up and she pushed it aside. I thought well this is going to be fun.”
Parsons said the two played tug of war with the gun before it went off.
“I don’t know who pulled the trigger but someone did and she got shot twice,” he said.
“I didn’t shoot her on purpose. I had my left hand on the gun and she had both hands on the gun and she got shot. I remember the gun going off but I’m not going to say I done it because we done it together.”
Parsons told the court he thinks about that day often.
“It bears on my mind as being a bad deal,” he said.
Parsons commented on his meeting with Dr. Perry Hassell.
Hassell testified Wednesday that he believed Parsons shows symptoms of Pick’s Disease, a type of dementia.
“I told him my story,” said Parsons. “He left saying there ain’t nothing wrong with you.”
After the shooting a note was found on Parsons that instructed emergency crews to call Miles Funeral Home in Winfield.
Defense attorney Lee Turner asked Parsons if he intended to kill his wife and himself that day.
“No sir,” replied Parsons.
Donald Lawing, former co-worker and friend of Parsons, took the stand.
He described Parsons as a model employee that never used bad language. Parsons son-in-law, Ron Andrea, of Colorado Springs, Colo. told a different story citing instances when Parsons exhibited violence.
He added that Parsons was accused of shooting and killing his father.
John Buchanan, also a son-in-law, testified that Parsons once threatened him because he had hugged Barbara.
Daughter Treva Andrea took the stand and described Parsons as a hardworking quiet man with a temper.
“His anger would be like a strike of lighting and loud like thunder,” she said.
She said the anger was usually geared toward her mother and sister, Virginia Buchanan.
Virginia testified that she had asked her mother if she had an escape route in case something ever happened.
She described Parsons as a controller of women and said she has had nightmares about her mother’s safety.
“He is vengeful and I’m afraid he will finish what he started,” she said.
“I am confident that he will kill her if he doesn’t go to prison.”
Barbara Parsons took the stand and told stories of violence that had occurred throughout their 63 years of marriage.
She stated that in 1977 she suffered a blow to her left eye from Harley’s fist.
“He said my dad told him that I needed a beating once in a while,” said Barbara.
“If he did he was joking.”
She also testified that Harley punched her in the stomach once and attempted to strangle her several times.
“One time I played dead and he stopped,” she said. “I believe he will finish the job if he has the chance.”
All of the witnesses testified that they had not noticed any behavioral changes in Parsons that could have indicated mental disorders.
Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Layton told the court in closing that the family should not have to leave the courtroom with a safety plan and asked the court for a life sentence.
“A number of years only gives Mrs. Parsons a date to look at and think that is the day I have to worry again,” said Layton.
Turner called the case a tragedy and agreed that no one should have to worry about safety. After the sentence was levied, Parsons requested to speak to his wife.
Despite objections from the state, Boyd granted the request.
Parsons turned to his wife and said “Barbara I’m sorry.”
“Yes sir I’m sorry to,” she replied.
With that, family members left the court room and Parsons sat weeping in a chair with his attorney attempting to console him.
Boyd explained after the sentencing that Parsons will have to serve 85 percent, or 21 years and four months of the sentence, before being eligible for parole.
Parsons has 10 days to appeal the sentence.
