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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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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