NO.

IN RE:INQUEST REGARDINGDEATH OFMELANY PARKERDOD 08108t2013

IN THE JUSTICECOURT OFPRESIDIO COUNTY, TEXASPRICINCT ONE

INQUEST RECORD

Pursuant to TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. Art. 49.15, this Court finds that it isauthorized to conduct an inquest into the death of Melany Lizabeth parker, DOB

02/04/1986' whose body was found in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas at approximately12:30 am on August 8, 2013. The body was lbund on the Union pacific Railroad tracksapproximately 150 feet east of the Russsell Street crossing.

The Court viewed the video from the locomotive of the UPRR, of the er.ent.

The video shows that as the UPRR train proceeds west to east through Marfa, there

comes into view a body lying on the railroad kacks. The body is that of a young female,lying down on her left side, using the south rail as a pillow, her head lying on the southrail, her body lying between the rails, and facing toward the west, (the direction fromwhich the train is coming). The body goes out of frame before there is the iryrpactbetween her and the train (the video is available frorn upRR).

After the train conductor was able to identify the object as a body, he imrnediatelystopped the train- l,ocal law enforcement authorities were contacted, and the body ofMelany Parker vvas located under the stopped train. Her skull had been crushed by the

train, and her body also suffered other severe injuries. Her left arrn was severed, and wasfound 15-20 feet away from her body, east of her body, near where her purse and cell

CAUSE

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phone was found' This court ordered that the body be taken to the EI paso countymedical examiner's office for a detennination of cause of death.

An investigation by the Presidio county sheriffs office and the g3d DistrictAttomey's office' determi,ed that Melany Parker had spent approximately three hours-fi'onl 9:00 pm to 12:00 am, at the Lost Horse saloou, drinking rvith her husbanclJohnRayburn, and other friends. Ms. Parker paid the bar tab of $56.50 at :Z:atam, using aMastercard of Joh, Rayburn's ending in 9209. According to John Rayburn, Ms. parkerleli the bar alone' to walk home. Ms. Par*er had visited with {r-iends for a coupre ofminutes after paying the bar tab. Mr. Rayburn hung out with friends for a period of time,the, Ieft to go horne. when Mr. Raybum reft the bar, the upRR train was stopped.

The UPRR tirnelog retlects that the body of Ms. parker rvas struck on the tracks atl):23 am, August g, 20r3. The rocation of Ms. parker,s body was approximatery twoblocks south of the Lost Horse Saloon_

The Presidio county s.o. interviewed persons identified to them as havi,gpersonal contact with Melany Parker the night of August 7-g,2013. witnesses fi-om theLost Horse saloon were able to confirm that Ms. parker had been at the bar tliat eveni,g.No witnesses reported seeing Ms' Parker after she left the bar on foot. No witnessesreported seeing Ms. Parker with any other person after she left the bar.

The Medicar Exami,er's Autopsy # r3-s4,conducted by Juan u. Co,tin, M.D.,EI Paso county Medical Examiner, is attached. It is the opinion of the medical examinerthat Melany Parker died from injuries fiicm being run over by a trai,. The manner ofdeath is suicide. The toxicology report, frorn tissue samples retrieved fi.orn Ms. parker.sliver' reflect that Ms' Parker had an alcohol level in her body at the time of her death of

26a mg'/100 gms'' or '026' In Texas, one is presumed to be regaily intoxicated if a person

has a breath or blood alcohol level of '08. Dr. contin told the office of the g3.d DistrictAttomey that Dr' contin noted no injuries to the body of Ms. parker which appeared tobe from foul play' or i,flicted by a third party. Dr. conti, stated that alr the injuries hefotrnd on the bocly of Ms' Parker rvere consisterit rvith trre injtrries resulti,g fi.om bei,grun over by a train.

John Raybum made a written statement dated 0g/27/2013,and was interviewedon 08/1712013' Mr' Raybum told Investigator Kevin Ficke that Ms. parker, six weeksbefore her death, jumped out of their car when she arrived home, tord her husband shewas going to "kill myself by letting the train hit me, and she started running.,. Anothertime' 2-3 rveeks before the train struck Melany, whe, Jolur Rayburn came home fiorn thebar' Melany told him that she had been walking on the railroad tracks, and her foot gotsfuck' whe, the train was stopped the,ight of August g, 2013, John parker drove to thetrain rvhen Mela'y was not at home, due to the fact that Merany had previouslythreatened to commit suicide by train- Merany,s journal, in her raptop, tarked aboutsuicide (accordi,g to her husband)' John Raybum confirmed that Mela,y had depressio,,mental issues, and was taking medication fbr her depression.

A review of Melany Parker's records from the presidio county Health center(where she also worked), reflect the foilowing i, rrer,redical crrart:

l ' l2/a2/z0r I patient has depression, suicidar thoughts2' 12l19l20l I Patient is suicidal, has headaches, has history of depression3' 07/19/zorz patie,t has a,xiety, depression, excessive wory4. A4/02/2013 patient has migraines

5- 04/29/zar3 patient has depression, has been having suicidar thoughts6. A5/16/2013 patient has anxiety

7. AS/29/2013 patient has depression

8. A6126/2A13 patient,s depression is worse:'?atient states trrat her depression is the same and possibry a rittre\I'orse- patienr states that she stil does have suicidir ihoughts butdeniesaplan." 'vuurvru({r tlru

Ms' Parker reported a family history of depression in both her mother and father. Ms.Parker was trcated for depression with medication, and was apparently taking suchmedication through the time of her death. Ms. Parker submitted her resignation from thePCHS on August 7,2013,the date of her death.

The investigation by the Presidio county sheriffs otrce disclosed no evidence offoul play' No witness carne forward, or was found, reporting any conduct i,dicati,g thata hornicide occurred' The cause of death reported by presidio county sheriff DannyDominguez was suicide' The cause of death reported by Medical Examiner Juan Continlvas suicide-

No credible evidence from any source has been found indicating that the death ofMelany Parker was anything other than suicide.

CONCLUSIONL The deceased person rvas Melany parker.2' The bodl, was found at r2:30-rz:40 am on August g,2013, r 50 feet east

of the Russelr street crossing on the upRR, in Marf4 presidio county,Texas.

3. The inquest was held on October 3,2013.4. The persons wrro provided information were presidio county srreriff

Danny Dominguez, pcso chief Deputy Joer Nunez, Jorrn Rayburn, g3dDistrict Attorney Rod ponton, g3'd District Attorney Investigator KevinFicke, and UpRR investigator Marco Basza.

5. The autopsy report is attached.6' There is no suspect in the death of Melany parker. tt is the determination

of this Court that no homicide occu:red.

7 ' The cause of death is suicide- suicide shall be noted as the cause of deathon the death certificate of Melany par*er.

Respectfully Submi tted,

OFFICE OF THEJUSTICE OF TI{E PEACBPRECINCT ONEPRESIDIO COUNTY, TEXAS

Presidis County CourthouseMarta, Texas ?g843t432)72,%483t

Documents attached:

l. AutoBsyReport,includingtoxicologyreportDocumeuts filed

2. John Rayburn statement3. Presidio County Sheriffs Office report4' Medieal records of Melaay Farker irom Presidio County Health gervices5. Lost Horse Saloon receipt (g:19 pm : lZ:01u*i

ERELLA GUEYARAJ.P., Precinct One

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