Rosalie Parsons Died from Gunshot Wound Butler County Genealogy Trails Kansas

AUGUSTA DAILY GAZETTE

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1980

Front Page.

SHOOTING VICTIM DIES, SPOUSE TO BE CHARGED

Rosalie Parsons, 25, Route 3, died last night from a gunshot wound to the head.

Butler County Attorney Bill Ronan said this morning that the dead woman's husband, Robert Parsons, would be charged early this afternoon with first degree murder in connection with her death. He was scheduled to appear before Associate District Judge J. Michael Jaworsky.

Parsons has been held in the Butler County Jail at El Dorado since early yesterday morning when we walked into the sheriff's office and told a deputy that he shot his wife.

Butler County Sheriff Dave Williams said Parsons told Deputy Walt Rollings that he shot his wife in the head and that she was outside the sheriff's office in his pickup truck. Mrs. Parsons was taken to Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado around 6:30 a.m. yesterday and later transferred to Wesley Medical Center.

Parsons was booked into jail on an aggravated battery charge yesterday morning. Yesterday afternoon he was charged with attempted first degree murder and his bond was set at $50,000.

Mrs. Parsons remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit yesterday until she died around 6:30 p.m.

Sheriff's officers believe that Parsons used a small handgun. The weapon was not on Parsons nor was it in the pickup truck. Parsons told officers he shot his wife a half mile south of Harry Street on ToWanKoNi Road.

Authorities remain puzzled on the motive for the shooting, why the husband drove some 20 miles to report it to the sheriff's department, where the crime actually occurred and where the weapon is.

A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Dunsford Funeral Home.

Her service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. James Catholic Church. Father Dave Cushing will officiate and burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.

She was born Aug. 14, 1955 in El Dorado to LeRoy and Luella Evans Simon.

She was employed at the DPM packing plant in Wichita and was a member of the St. James Catholic Church.

Survivors include a son, Sean Parsons, of the home; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Simon of Augusta; four brothers, Junior Simon, Bobby Simon, Dale Simon and Mark Simon, all of Augusta; three sisters, Pamela Weber of Hutchinson, Joyce Sims and Brenda Davis, both of Augusta, and grandparents, Ida Simon of Augusta, and Mr. and Mrs. James Evans of Augusta.

AUGUSTA DAILY GAZETTE

Wednesday, December 31, 1980

SPOUSE CHARGED

Robert Parsons, Route 3, was charged with first degree murder yesterday in connection with the death of his wife.

Associate District Judge J. Michael Jaworsky set bond for Robert Parsons at $50,000.

His preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 7, at 1:30 p.m.

Mrs. Parsons, 25, died Monday evening at Wesley Medical Center after being shot twice in the head with a small caliber weapon.

Parsons remains in the Butler County Jail at El Dorado where he has been in custody since he walked into the sheriff's office around 6:15 a.m. Monday and told Deputy Walt Rollings that he had shot his wife. After receiving emergency treatment at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado, Mrs. Parsons was taken to Wesley Medical Center where she remained in critical condition until she died around 6:40 p.m. Monday.

Sheriff's officers are continuing their investigation of the homicide.

Sheriff Dave Williams said yesterday there is still some doubt about the motive. Law enforcement officials are still searching for the weapon and the location of the murder site. (submitted by Diana Herrman)