40-year sentence in killing, arson

A Moscow, Idaho, man who admitted killing his wife and unborn daughter received a sentence Tuesday of 40 years in prison – 20 of which must be served before he can be considered for parole.

Silas Parks, 26, previously accepted a plea agreement in which he admitted killing 28-year-old Sarah Parks and her 20-week-old fetus, said Latah County Prosecutor Bill Robinson.

“We are very happy with the resolution. The fact that the judge imposed the maximum sentence was very important to us,” Robinson said. “We have every expectation that the parole board will not release Mr. Parks after 20 years.”

Moscow firefighters responded to Parks’ apartment on June 24, 2009, on the report of a fire. They found the body of 28-year-old Sarah Parks after extinguishing the flames.

An autopsy revealed that Sarah Parks was dead when the fire started.

Parks had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson in connection with the deaths. As part of a plea agreement, Parks instead pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree manslaughter along with the arson charge.

Parks’ defense attorneys asked District Court Judge Jeff Brudie to sentence their client to 10 years with five years fixed. Robinson said he asked for the maximum sentence of 40 years. Parks “did make a statement to the court expressing remorse. He said appropriate things,” Robinson said. “I’m not sure anyone has accepted the level of responsibility he has taken for himself.”