Suburban Mayor’s Death Ruled A Suicide

Sun., May 14, 1995

Associated Press

The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s office has classified the death of Mayor Philip Parker as a suicide.

Parker, 47, was alone in his home in this Tacoma suburb early Thursday morning when he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, the medical examiner said.

His body was discovered by a neighbor later that day.

Parker, who served on the Ruston town council for 16 years before becoming mayor in January 1994, left notes to loved ones indicating dissatisfaction with his accomplishments.

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