ASHEBORO, N.C. — A Randolph County grand jury has indicted a man in connection with the 2019 overdose death of a pregnant woman and her unborn child.
Barry Alan Parker was indicted Aug. 9, 2021, on charges of second-degree murder, murder of an unborn child and felony sell/deliver of heroin to a pregnant female, according to the Randolph County District Attorney’s Office.
Amber Leigh Cox was found unresponsive April 7, 2019, at 1123 Ingram Dr., Asheboro, in what authorities suspected was a heroin overdose. Cox was nine months pregnant at the time.
Randolph County EMS responded and attempted lifesaving measures before pronouncing Cox and her unborn child dead at the scene. Evidence of recent drug use was found at the location. An autopsy was performed at the N.C. Medical Examiner’s Office in Raleigh.
An initial investigation led authorities to Gregory Manuel Fisher, who was charged with second-degree murder by distributing drugs and murder of an unborn child. Fisher, who was being held in the Randolph County Jail on unrelated charges, was served with the indictment. However, the Randolph County District Attorney’s Office dismissed the charges against Fisher in November 2019.
In October 2020, the District Attorney’s Office provided additional information to the Sheriff’s Office, prompting investigators to reopen the case. After what authorities described as a “lengthy investigation and re-examination of evidence,” the case was presented to a grand jury.
Parker was arrested Aug. 16, 2021, and transported to the Randolph County Jail. A magistrate set his bond at $1,000,000 secured. Parker appeared in Superior Court, but no updates on the proceeding were available.
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