A couple has been charged with the murder of a beloved Georgia bartender whose dismembered remains were found in a reservoir last month, authorities said.
Mario Andre Barber, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, have been charged with the murder of 37-year-old Jamal Parker of Atlanta, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said. The couple entered not guilty pleas earlier this week..
Parker’s remains were discovered on May 15 in the Dog River Reservoir, some 30 miles outside Atlanta.
Details of the gruesome case are limited, but Parker was identified after law enforcement shared images of his tattoos and urged anyone who recognized them to come forward. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation then used DNA comparison to confirm his identity.
Police have not revealed the connection between the victim and the suspects. They believe the pair allegedly killed Parker at a house on Langdale Chase Street, where officers were seen searching in late May.
Investigators were seen removing a reciprocating saw and cleaning supplies, according to WSB-TV.
Parker was a well-known bartender in Atlanta and was “loved by everyone,” his distraught father, Charles Parker, told the news channel. “It’s the kind of stuff you see on TV. They had no remorse,” he said of the accused couple.
The family described Parker’s death as “heart-wrenching” and relatives were outside court Tuesday chanting “Justice for Jamal.”
“I want them to be punished. And I don’t even think a life sentence is good enough,” Parker’s grieving dad said.
A GoFundMe page to support the family with funeral costs described Parker as “a beautiful soul and spirit.”
“He loved life and the people he met along his journey in life,” the tribute said. “He was a musical artist, visual artist, and a professional bartender who enjoyed creating new drinks. This has totally devastated our family and friends and has left us heartbroken.”
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said it “appreciates the public’s assistance and cooperation as investigators continue to pursue all leads in this case” in a statement shared on social media.
Barber and Baker are being held without bond.
