Two Georgia residents have been charged with murder after authorities said a bartender was killed and his dismembered remains were left in a lake.
Mario Andre Barber, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, were taken into custody Monday in connection with the death of 37-year-old Jamal Rashad Parker, who investigators say was killed at a home outside Atlanta, according to a news release from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Parker’s remains were found in May in the Dog River Reservoir, roughly 30 miles from Atlanta, investigators said.
Authorities later confirmed Parker’s identity through DNA comparison technology after his father contacted investigators and said tattoos on the victim appeared to match his son’s, local station WSB-TV reported.
Mario Andre Barber, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, are charged with murder. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators believe Parker was killed inside a Douglasville residence where Baker lived.
Late last month, investigators were seen removing a reciprocating saw and cleaning supplies from the home, according to WSB-TV.
Police have not said whether Parker had a prior relationship with the suspects. However, a GoFundMe page set up by a family member described them as “people he knew and trusted.”
A family member described Jamal Rashad Parker as a bartender, musician and artist with “a beautiful soul and spirit.” (GoFundMe)
The suspects pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday and are being held without bond. Both have lengthy criminal records, according to reports.
“I want them to be punished. And I don’t even think a life sentence is good enough,” Parker’s dad, Charles Parker, told WSB-TV outside the courthouse.
“It’s the kind of stuff you see on TV, but I mean … they had no remorse,” he added.
In addition to bartending at Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar in Atlanta, the victim was a musician and artist with “a beautiful soul and spirit,” according to the GoFundMe page created to cover burial costs.
Investigators believe the two suspects killed the victim inside a home in Douglasville. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
“He loved life and the people he met along his journey in life. 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 fundraiser reads.
