A Georgia woman has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the death of her boyfriend, whose mutilated remains were discovered in a reservoir last month, authorities said Thursday.
Background
Jamal Parker, 37, was found dead on May 15 in Douglas County's Dog River Reservoir. His body was so badly decomposed that it took investigators nearly a month to identify him. On June 16, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests of Brittany Baker, 43, and Mario Barber, 46, both charged with murder in connection with Parker's death.
Nearly one month later, authorities added a third suspect: Ambria Boyd, 35, who police say was Parker's girlfriend. The timing of her arrest suggests investigators may have uncovered evidence linking her to the killing after initially focusing on Baker and Barber.
According to arrest warrants reviewed by Law&Crime, Boyd allegedly approached detectives claiming she had information about her boyfriend's killer. She told investigators she received a tip from an "unknown caller" who provided the name and address of a suspect in Parker's death. That information, police determined, was false.
The Investigation
Detectives later learned that Boyd knew the actual suspect and had been living with that person, according to warrants. She also allegedly failed to disclose that she and the real killer were with Parker "a few hours" before investigators believe he was murdered.
"She may have a very good reason for lying about his killer," a Douglas County Sheriff's Office spokesperson told Law&Crime regarding Boyd's motivation. "We'll let the investigation continue."
Boyd has been charged with murder, making false statements to law enforcement, and obstructing or hindering police. Police documents indicate she was charged as a "party to a crime" in Parker's death.
Baker and Barber face single counts of murder. All three suspects are being held at the Douglas County Jail without bond.
Key Takeaways
- Jamal Parker, 37, was found dead May 15 in Dog River Reservoir; identification took nearly a month due to decomposition
- Three people now charged: Brittany Baker (43), Mario Barber (46), and Ambria Boyd (35)
- Boyd allegedly gave police false information about the killer's identity while protecting someone she knew
- Police say Boyd was living with the suspect she was shielding from investigators
- All three suspects are held without bond at Douglas County Jail
What's Next
All three defendants will face preliminary hearings in Douglas County Superior Court, where prosecutors must show probable cause for the murder charges. Defense attorneys have not yet filed motions challenging the evidence. Investigators have not publicly identified who they consider to be the primary suspect in Parker's death or disclosed details about what led them to Boyd. Court dates had not been finalized as of Thursday.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said its investigation remains active.