In early February 2023, the life of 63-year-old male, Marvin Parker, came to a violent and tragic end in Memphis, Tennessee. His body was discovered on the morning of February 4th inside his silver GMC truck, which was parked on South Greer Street. First responders found that Parker had been subjected to a brutal attack, having been both beaten and shot in the face. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into Parker's death quickly focused on his recent activities.
Detectives learned he had been engaged in a home remodeling project in the Hyde Park area and had hired a man to help him. A crucial piece of the puzzle came from Parker's girlfriend, who told police she was on the phone with him the night before his body was found. During the call, she overheard a heated argument and sounds of a physical fight between Parker and the man he was working with, before the call abruptly ended. This pointed investigators to the house on Staten Street where Parker had been working.
At the remodeling site, police uncovered a grim scene. There were bloodstains in the front room, and a search of a vacant property next door revealed bloody clothing, including a distinctive camouflage jacket bearing the name 'Wurth,' and a hammer. Investigators secured surveillance footage from a nearby store that captured a man wearing a similar jacket getting out of Parker's truck on the morning of the murder. This individual was identified as 36-year-old Derek Rawlings, the man who had been assisting Parker with the renovation.
Derek Rawlings was arrested on February 23, 2023. Initially, he faced a charge of second-degree murder. However, in October of that year, a grand jury indicted him on the more severe charge of first-degree murder. Family members of Marvin Parker speculated that the motive behind the violent confrontation was a dispute over money. Ultimately, on August 22, 2025, Derek Rawlings pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to serve 22 years in state prison for his role in the death of Marvin Parker.
