Illegal Gambling Ring Discovered During Investigation of Double Homicide, Nine More People Arrested
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department arrested nine more men connected to an illegal gambling ring that was discovered last summer during the investigation of a double homicide.
The sports betting ring was run by murder suspect Brett Parker of Irmo. He faces both murder charges, as well as federal charges for operating an illegal gambling ring. He will go to trial for the homicides this coming May.
The nine men arrested in connection with the sports betting ring have all been charged with misdemeanor gambling. Captain Chris Cowan says he expects more people will turn themselves in over the next few days.
Sheriff Leon Lott said that the operation was large scale – those makings bets were betting hundreds of thousands of dollars. “We’re talking about big money,” Lott said. “This was not a $5 bet on who’s going to win a ball game.”
Illegal Gambling Ring Discovered After Double Homicide
On April 13th, Tammy Jo Parker, 44, and Bryan Capnerhurst, 46 from Batesburg-Leesville, were found shot to death in the Parkers’ upscale home in Irmo.
Parker told police that Capnerhurst came to his house to settle a sports bet, and went upstairs to wait. However, Parker then heard gunshots and ran upstairs to see what happened. He found his wife dead on the floor, and Capnerhurst with a gun. Capnerhurst pointed the gun at Parker, who managed to retrieve a gun from the top of his safe and fired in self-defense.
The coroner’s report states that Capnherhurst and Tammy Parker died of multiple gunshot wounds. Sheriff Lott verified that two guns were used. However, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department redacted their earlier statement about Parker’s version of events, although Parker himself has stuck to his story so far.
Prosecutors from the 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office said that Parker stood to collect $1.1 million from an insurance policy if his wife died. They claim he concocted the robbery story.
Last month, a second ring in Lexington, run by a man who helped Parker start his Richland County business, was uncovered. Lanny Ray Gunter, 43, was sentenced to 5 years in prison with 5 years’ probation, and his accomplices Harry Bruce Benenhaley, 66, and Ronald Dale Spence, 61, each sentenced to 5 years’ probation. Gunter’s sentence, however, was reduced because he cooperated with authorities during the investigation of the Parker murder case. He said that Parker told him about an affair, and said that he wanted to end his marriage for four months before his wife and Capnherhurst were killed.
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