Jared Parks
Accidental fall? Suicide? Pedestrian-vehicle accident? Murder made to look like mishap?
These questions swirled around the death of 18-year-old Jared Parks after his body was found a little before midnight on Monday, May 11, 2009 on Interstate 35/80 near the Beaver Avenue Bridge in Polk County, Iowa.
This much was known:
• Jared was struck by at least two semi tractor-trailers and possibly a third that did not stop.
• He was seen lying unconscious on the road by the first truck driver.
• The Polk County Medical Examiner ruled his injuries consistent with being run over.
• His cellphone, wallet, earrings, and tennis shoes were missing.
• He left his girlfriend’s home at 9:30 p.m., saying he’d return soon. At the same time, he texted his mother that he’d be home at 11:30.
• He was not driving a car.
• Only a few calls or texts were linked to his cellphone after he contacted his mother.
• Although investigators could ping his phone to a cell tower close to the body, they could not locate the phone, possibly because it was tossed into undergrowth.
The popular and outgoing Jared, son of Tammy and Chad Parks, graduated from Urbandale High School early, but planned to participate in the upcoming commencement ceremony.
Hundred of friends remembered Jared at a candle-lit memorial. The unanswered question that lingered at the ceremony was what had happened to this happy and well-liked young man.
Iowacoldcases.org received anonymous information that Jared may have known people who were involved in drugs. There is no way to verify this, but perhaps someone out there knows more facts and will come forward.
If you can help solve this perplexing death, call the Iowa State Patrol at 515-323-4360 or Polk County Crime Stoppers at 515-223-1400.
Jared’s mom and dad are offering a $10,000 reward for information.
He was involved with drugs and I know that personally. but it was never anything too serious. there were people around him involved with much worse drugs and gangs. I personally thought it was one person, but he ended up taking his own life a few months afterward and the other person i suspected the police already know about but won’t go farther than questioning. the police let this get cold. such a shame for his death to be in vain. someone killed Jared Parks, and that person is still out there laughing at the police department. wow.
I have heard multiple Bosnian kids from Urbandale high school that graduated with his class talk about how a Bosnian killed him over drugs. The person or persons who did this walked amongst him every day but the police won’t go as far as they need to. I reported to crime stoppers what I knew and the racist things these kids say about him . The kids that talked about it where at Lyons park everyday and still go there. Its across from the high school. I’ve been there a couple times with a friend and heard 4 boys say he got what he deserved for owing someone money. they need to look at his classmates and peers. It was someone close to him that knew he would trust to go with them. It’s so sad his family and little sister has to deal with this every day. If only the police would dig further. And no racism here but they are Bosnian boys. The police need to step it up or the family needs to hire a private investigator and get it figured out. This is so sad and he deserved justice. Drugs are not worth murder. Many people say that is impossible for such a good school well it’s not. Urbandale has problems like this. I feel sorry for the family they have to know their son was involved in drugs but they need to know so it can get solved.