WARREN – A man accused of killing a 32-year-old woman and leaving her body in a wooded area – known as a well-known Southwest Side dump – has turned down a plea deal from prosecutors.
Last week’s offer in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court would have seen him sentenced to life with his first chance of parole in 18 years.
said Antuan Parker, 44, of Oak Street SW, Warren “no” During a visit, Judge Gary Yost asked if he would plead guilty to counts of simple murder and other crimes related to the death of Desirae Boss.
Instead, Parker will face trial beginning Oct. 3 on counts of aggravated murder with gun specs, misappropriation of a corpse, two counts of evidence tampering, two counts of aggravated arson, and two counts of gun possession while on disability. Assistant prosecutor Chuck Morrow said that if the jury finds him guilty, Parker’s sentence could be as much as 46 years to life in prison.
Parker was arrested on November 17, 2021 on a warrant related to the killing of Boss, whose body was found on October 2, 2021 after being reported missing a week earlier. The body was discovered in an area off Choctaw Street and Pershing Avenue SW. The Trumbull County Coroner’s Office said the Transylvania Avenue woman died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
Parker was arrested while driving a white GMC Acadia that was pulled over by police officers near the corner of Pine Avenue and Burton Street SE, a report said.
Detectives reportedly connected Parker to the murder after investigating a serious arson case at Parker’s home on Oak Street SW on October 4.
City officials said the area where Boss’s body was found was the site of previous dumps, including bodies.
Boss was the subject of a social media search by her family, who had reported her missing since September 25, 2021. Boss was last seen that day at the Family Dollar store on West Market Street. Her aunt said her phone had gone straight to voicemail since she came to her mother’s house that day to drop off some clothes. Also missing was Boss’s truck – a dark green GMC Jimmy SUV.
On Oct. 2, 2021, a Trumbull County 911 caller reported finding a female body — who had first been identified as a child — lying with shoes that appeared to have been thrown next to her. Her hair was braided, the report said, and she wore a blue shirt, blue jeans and pink socks.
A police report said the victim was 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighed approximately 130 pounds.
Parker was being held in prison pending $1 million bail. The indictment states that Parker was charged with the September 27 murder. Parker’s attorney, Jeffrey Goodman, said the case against his client stood “patchy evidence” while prosecutors said her case was strong.
