Jared Andrew PARKS

PARKS, HALLING, ANLIKER, PARKS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/10/2009 at 09:11:46

URBANDALE, IA - Jared Andrew Parks, age 18, of Urbandale, died Monday (May 11, 2009). Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday May 18, at New Hope Assembly Church 6800 Townsend in Urbandale. The Pastor James Weaver will officiate. Friends and relatives may call on the family from 12 to 2:30 p.m. Monday May 18, at New Hope Assembly Church. Arrangements are being conducted by Dugger Funeral Home, 320 East St. in Latimer.

Jared Andrew, the son of Chad and Tammy Halling Parks, was born Oct. 5, 1990, in Webster City. Jared grew up in the communities of Dows, Clarion, Ankeny and Urbandale. Jared attended schools in Ankeny, West Des Moines and Urbandale. Having completed his high school education in December 2008, Jared was scheduled to graduate from Urbandale High School this week. Jared was an aspiring, well-liked young man who is remembered for his love of basketball and listening to music, particularly Lil'Wayne. Jared liked playing his PS3 and going to the movies. Jared is survived by his parents, Chad and Tammy; a sister, Adra; maternal grandparents, Ron Halling of Blairsburg, Susie Anliker and husband, Dave, of Hardy; paternal grandparents, Larry and Anita Parks of Latimer; maternal great-grandmother, Dorothy Halling of Boone; paternal great-grandmother, Dorothy Parks of Hampton; aunt and uncles, Micki and Jason, Marc, Brad, Matt; numerous other great-aunts and uncles; cousins; relatives and friends. Jared is preceded in death by his grandparents and great-grandparents. Dugger Funeral Home, 320 East St., Latimer.

Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa
May 16, 2009

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May 14, 2009
Des Moines Register, Iowa

Services set for Urbandale teen who died on I-35/80

By Daniel Finney • dafinney@dmreg.com

Memorial services have been set for an 18-year-old Urbandale man who died Monday on Interstate 35/80 near Merle Hay Road. Services for Jared Andrew Parks will be 3 p.m., Monday, at the New Hope Assembly Church 6800 Townsend, Urbandale. Friends may call from noon to 2:30 p.m. Monday at the church.

The Iowa State Patrol’s investigation into Parks’ death “has not reached a resolution,” said Jessica Lown, spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Public Safety said Thursday afternoon. Parks was run over by several vehicles on I-35/80 near Merle Hay Road late Monday. Officials are trying to determine how the teenager ended up alone on the freeway at about 11:50 p.m. Parks, who was set to graduate with his classmates at Urbandale High School next week, died of multiple blunt force trauma wounds consistent with being hit by a vehicle, the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office determined. More than 450 people attended a candlelight vigil for Parks at a Johnston church Wednesday night.

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Jared Park's Parents Want Answers
Teen's Death Called 'Suspicious'

DES MOINES, Iowa --
An Urbandale family said Monday that they want answers about how their son died.

Jared Parks, 18, was hit by two vehicles along Interstate 35-80 on the night of May 11. Jared's parents believe there's someone knows how their son ended up in the middle of the interstate. Investigators said the case is considered suspicious. Jared's parents are asking anyone with information about Jared's death to come forward.

"It's hard to believe that somebody could put a body in the middle of the interstate and nobody would have seen anything," said Tammy Parks, Jared's mother.

Tammy and Chad Parks said Jared was with his girlfriend the night of his death. He left her house shortly after 9:30 p.m. Jared didn't take his car and told the girlfriend he would be right back. That's the last time anyone heard from Jared. "I can take whatever it is, I just need to know, I just need to know," said Tammy Parks.
"I can accept that he's gone, but I can't accept that there's somebody out there that did this to him or just knows what happened, I mean somebody knows what happened on that night," said Chad Parks.

Investigators said Jared was hit by at least two vehicles along Interstate 35-80 on the night of May 11. One of the drivers told police Jared's body was in the middle of the road before he was hit. It's one reason the family believes this was no accident and not a suicide.

"They did say definitely his injuries were not consistent with coming from the bridge, so he didn't fall. He didn't jump. He didn't get pushed from the bridge, his body was put on the road," said Tammy Parks.

The Parks are confident someone knows the answer. Jared sent his mom a couple of text messages around 9:30 p.m. that night saying he would be home around 11:30 p.m. The family said from that point on there were few calls or texts to or from Jared's phone. "That's kind of strange too because he was on the phone all the time, all the time," said Tammy Parks. Investigators never found Jared's cell phone, and his wallet, earrings and tennis shoes were also missing.

"There's just so many questions out there, it just tears you up inside not knowing what happened or what was going on those two hours or why it ended the way it did," said Chad Parks.

Jared's parents said investigators were able to track the phone from a cell tower near where Jared's body was found, but it was never recovered. His parents believe someone may have tossed it out.

The Department of Criminal Investigation continues to work the case, but is also asking for the public's help. If you have any information, no matter how small, call 515-323-4360 or Polk County Crime Stoppers at 515-223-1400.

A fund has also been set up for donations that can be made at any Wells Fargo bank.

http://www.kcci.com/news/19693716/detail.html
and
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090609/NEWS/906090374/1001/NEWS