Editor's note: This story has been updated to include an attorney's response to a request for comment from the Hauxeda.
A wrongful death suit filed on behalf of the son of a woman who was murdered by her husband — who was supposed to be under 24/7 GPS supervision at the time — has been settled.
Torie Parrow, 32, was shot and killed by her husband Melvin Parrow, 36, on Oct. 31, 2018. At the time, Melvin Parrow was on 24/7 house arrest and under court order to stay away from their home on Elm Street.
Melvin Parrow cut off his ankle monitor and entered the house sometime that day. When Torie Parrow stopped at the house to get her son’s Halloween costume, Melvin Parrow was waiting inside. He shot her in the face and leg before turning the gun on himself.
Torie Parrow’s then-8-year-old son was sitting in his mom’s vehicle in the driveway when his mom was killed.
That child, through his father, filed the wrongful death suit in 2021 against the bail bond companies and GPS monitoring company that had been monitoring Melvin Parrow. First Track GPS, LLC; A-Advanced Bail Bonds Inc.; Michael Nivens Bail Bonds; Michael D. Nivens; Melissa O’Brien; Terry Marshall; Brenda Marshall and Crystal Copeland are all named as defendants.
According to online court documents, the defendants “agreed to pay the sum set forth in Exhibit A,” but the amount is not disclosed. In the motion to settle the claim, the defendants expressly deny liability for the death of Torie Parrow.
Melvin Parrow was ordered to be on 24/7 GPS monitoring
The suit alleged Melvin Parrow had prior felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree burglary, resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance and that Melvin Parrow was on probation at the time of the assault on Oct. 24, 2018.
He was held on a $50,000 bond with the conditions that he have no contact with the victim, Torie Parrow, or her family; that he be placed on house arrest; and that he undergo 24/7 GPS monitoring.
When Melvin Parrow was released from jail, Torie Parrow and/or her family reached out to the bond company and stated that Torie Parrow was terrified of Melvin Parrow and scared for her safety, the suit alleges. She and/or her family also told an employee of the bond company that Melvin Parrow had contacted Torrie hundreds of times in violation of his bond conditions, and that one of the messages indicated he was going to kill her, the suit alleges.
The lawsuit alleged the defendants ignored Torie Parrow’s and her family’s pleas and failed to take any additional steps to protect her safety or to control Melvin Parrow.
“Defendants failed to notify law enforcement that Melvin Parrow had tampered with and removed his GPS bracelet,” the suit alleged.
Sarah M. Donelan, attorney for Torie Parrow’s son, said she is unable to provide any information about the case or settlement. Kent Hyde, an attorney representing the defendants, also said he cannot comment about the case or settlement.
