Hearing set for Latah County man in wife’s killing

MOSCOW — A preliminary hearing for a man charged with the murder of his wife and unborn child is set for Friday in Latah County. Silas Parks faces two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson in connection with the June 24 death of Sarah Parks, 28, who was pregnant, and the fire that burned the couple’s Moscow duplex. An autopsy report indicated Sarah Parks died of strangulation or suffocation before the fire. Police reported that Silas Parks denied any involvement in his wife’s death. He is quoted as saying she was “dead to the world” asleep when he left early in the morning to work out at a local health club. If convicted, the 25-year-old Silas Parks faces a possible death penalty or life in prison, the Lewiston Tribune reported. He remains in the Latah County jail on no bond. The case file has grown to contain a dozen sealed envelopes containing various orders, motions, affidavits and other documents not open to the public. The file also contains a number of search warrants that have been served and lists of various items seized, including computers, Internet and phone records, bank account records, the contents of automobiles, student records from the University of Idaho and various household items. Items on one search warrant list include two gasoline cans and a can of lighter fluid. An affidavit linked to one of the warrants refers to a “secret bank account” alleged to have belonged to Silas Parks “that Sarah may have discovered and caused friction in their marriage.” Silas Parks, according to court records, told investigators he had been involved in at least three domestic violence situations with his wife.