Man found shot dead in back seat of his idling car; woman goes missing

BIENVILLE PARISH, La. (KSLA) — A man is dead, a woman is missing and authorities say they have identified a person of interest in the homicide.

The homicide investigation began when 59-year-old Vernon Parker was found shot dead about 8:15 a.m. Sunday, New Year’s Day in the back seat of his idling car on Pleasant Road south of the Bienville Parish town of Ringgold, Bienville Parish Sheriff John Ballance told KSLA News 12.

The next day, the sheriff added, authorities got a call from family members of Kimberly Moore who reported that the 43-year-old Ringgold woman as missing.

A relative last saw her about 11:30 p.m. Dec. 31. At the time, she was wearing the same outfit as the one in the photo that the Sheriff’s Office shared Tuesday evening on its Facebook page.

Not only is her family concerned about her whereabouts, Bienville sheriff’s investigators believe Moore might have seen the homicide that occurred sometime after midnight New Year’s Day.

Investigators have since learned that Moore and Parker had become acquaintances, that the two were seen together on New Year’s Eve and that Parker’s car was seen passing by where a New Year’s Eve party was being held.

Authorities urge anyone with any information about Moore’s whereabouts or Parker’s death to call the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office at (318) 263-2215.

Family members of Kimberly Moore reported the 43-year-old Ringgold woman as missing, according... — Family members of Kimberly Moore reported the 43-year-old Ringgold woman as missing, according to a Facebook post Jan. 3, 2023, by Sheriff John Ballance. A relative last saw her about 11:30 p.m. Dec. 31. At the time, she was wearing the same outfit as the one in the photo shared by the Sheriff’s Office.(Source: Bienville Parish Sheriff's Office)

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