Suspect accused of beating man to death admits accidentally killing victim after party, investigators say

DOTHAN, Alabama (WDHN) – More information is coming to light in the case of a couple accused of killing a man and hiding his body under a house.

Richard Bishop Jr. is charged with murder and desecration of a corpse in connection with the death of Patrick Parrish. He is charged along with his partner, 33-year-old Courtney Ingram.

According to Dothan police, Parrish's body was found underneath his home in the 1300 block of Coe Dairy Road after officers conducted a welfare check on May 8. The suspects were arrested nine days later in Eufaula.

During a hearing Friday, Dothan police investigators took the stand and testified that Bishop Jr. admitted during his second interview with police that he accidentally killed Parrish after he “freaked out” at a party.

According to investigators, Parrish made “sexual advances” toward Ingram after the party, which angered Bishop Jr.

Investigators say Bishop Jr. “freaked out” and hit Parrish with a wrench and struck him two more times, inadvertently killing him.

Prosecutors allege that Bishop Jr. hit Parrish so hard that his eye popped out with the first blow.

The investigator further said that after hitting Parrish, Bishop Jr. hid the body under the house and drove away with Ingram in Parrish's truck.

During a hearing in late May, Ingram's defense team said their client had nothing to do with the murder or the cover-up and was forced to travel to Eufaula with Bishop.

Bishop Jr.'s case has been forwarded to a grand jury for indictment.

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