The day after Thanksgiving in 1998, 25-year-old Corey Parker failed to show up for work at Ragtime Tavern in Atlantic Beach, Florida. This was completely out of character for the reliable young waitress, originally from Rochester, New York. When a coworker checked on her, a gruesome scene awaited: Corey lay murdered in her bedroom, stabbed an unimaginable 101 times. This is a deep dive into the Corey Parker murder case, exploring the investigation, trial, and lingering questions that continue to haunt this cold case.

The crime scene photo shows the brutality of the attack.

The Initial Investigation: A Trail of Blood and Few Leads

The sheer brutality of the crime pointed toward a rage-filled killer, possibly someone Corey knew. The apartment showed no signs of forced entry, suggesting she may have known her attacker or that they were lying in wait. A blood trail led from the bedroom to the kitchen window, indicating a possible point of entry and escape. The positioning of Corey’s body, though sexually suggestive, yielded no evidence of sexual assault, further muddying the waters of motive.

Corey Parker, a vibrant young woman whose life was tragically cut short.

Early suspicion fell on two coworkers who seemed overly infatuated with Corey. One admitted to fantasies about her, while the other provided a questionable alibi that unraveled under scrutiny. Despite their suspicious behavior, DNA evidence from the scene excluded both individuals. Corey’s boyfriend, out of state for Thanksgiving, also had a solid alibi. A tip about a peeping Tom lurking around Corey’s apartment prior to the murder provided another potential lead, but the description yielded no concrete suspects. The case went cold.

A Break in the Case: A Frantic Phone Call and DNA Evidence

Eighteen months later, a $20,000 reward breathed new life into the investigation. Julia Sedgwick, a former coworker of Robert Erik Denney, contacted police after recalling a disturbing conversation. Denney, who lived just 35 yards from Corey, had called Julia in a panicked state months after the murder, claiming a family death and needing to flee to Texas. He also spoke of a waitress in a neighboring apartment he wanted to date, later identified as Corey.

Robert Erik Denney, convicted of Corey Parker’s murder.

This crucial tip led police to Robert Denney, who now lived in Maryland. Denney refused a DNA request, prompting a surveillance operation that eventually secured a sample of his saliva. The DNA matched blood and hair found at the crime scene. In November 2000, Robert Erik Denney was arrested and charged with Corey Parker’s murder.

The Trial and Conviction: Circumstantial Evidence and a Quick Verdict

The prosecution built their case on Denney’s proximity to the victim, the DNA evidence, and testimony suggesting a possible obsession with Corey. A lighter found at the scene, believed to belong to Denney, added to the circumstantial evidence. Denney’s sister described him as a “night creeper,” further painting a picture of a disturbed individual.

The lighter found at the crime scene was a key piece of evidence in the trial.

Denney maintained his innocence, claiming he’d never met Corey. He offered implausible explanations for the presence of his DNA at the scene, suggesting it could have been carried by a cat or even airborne from a sneeze. The jury remained unconvinced, deliberating for a mere 45 minutes before returning a guilty verdict. Denney was sentenced to life in prison.

Lingering Doubts and the Fight for a New Trial: Was Justice Truly Served?

Despite the conviction, questions persist. Denney’s lawyers are fighting for a new trial, citing potential DNA mishandling and allegations that the state’s DNA expert misrepresented his role in the analysis. They also point to the fact that some DNA evidence from the crime scene remains unidentified.

Corey Parker with friends. Her murder left a devastating hole in their lives.

The Corey Parker case stands as a chilling reminder of the devastating consequences of violence and the complexities of the justice system. While Robert Denney remains behind bars, the ongoing fight for a new trial raises crucial questions about the integrity of the evidence and whether the right man was truly brought to justice. The brutal murder of Corey Parker continues to be a case shrouded in mystery and controversy, a case that may never truly be closed. Was a killer brought to justice, or does an innocent man languish in prison while the real perpetrator remains free? Only time, and perhaps further investigation, will tell.