Editors’ Note: This article originally stated probable cause had been found against Jack Parsons, Jr. However, Parsons waived his preliminary hearing, and probable cause was found against Tara Adkins. This article has been updated to reflect that correction.
LINCOLN COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – The cases against a Lincoln County couple charged in the drowning death of their two-year-old daughter are now bound over to circuit court.
Jack Parsons Jr., 30, and the child’s mother, Tara Adkins, 24, are both charged with child neglect resulting in death and child neglect creating risk of injury, and are being held in the Western Regional Jail.
In a preliminary hearing Thursday, a judge found probable cause against Adkins, while Parsons waived his preliminary hearing. Adkins’ bond remains at $100,000 cash-only. Parsons’ bond is now $100,000 property/surety.
In a preliminary hearing in Lincoln County Magistrate Court Thursday, the judge found probable cause to send Parsons’ case to a grand jury.
Adkins’ hearing is still underway, and WOWK 13 News will update this article when the ruling is announced.
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The West Virginia State Police on June 20 said the call about a possible drowning in the 300 block of Scary Creek Road came in around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to their criminal complaints, a two- and three-year-old were found in a pond at a nearby residence. The document said Parsons and Adkins did not know where the two children were and began looking for them when Parsons found them in the pond.
The complaint against Parsons says he had been outside doing yard work when the children came outside with him. The complaint says he said he believed the two children had gone back inside. According to Adkins’ complaint, she said she had believed the children were with Parsons, but then an older child asked her where the other two were.
According to Parsons’ complaint, he said he pulled the children out of the pond and began to attempt CPR on the girl.
A two- and three-year-old were taken to the hospital where the two-year-old girl was pronounced dead, according to the West Virginia State Police.
Parsons, Jr. has previously been charged with drug possession and DUI on separate occasions, according to court records.
Father in Lincoln County child neglect case previously charged with drug possession, DUI The charges against Jack Parsons Jr., 30, are both from the 2020s: Once in December 2021 for having marijuana and meth on him during a traffic stop, and another in July 2022 for marijuana.
As a part of a plea deal in the 2021 charges of possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, and obstructing, he pleaded no contest to the marijuana charge and the other two charges were dropped. He had to pay a fine for the possession of marijuana charge, according to records. The 2022 possession of marijuana case is still open.
In Putnam County, Parsons spent seven days in jail and had to pay fines for driving under the influence with a person under the age of 16 in Putnam County in October 2023, according to court records. The criminal complaint from 2023 said law enforcement could smell marijuana on Parsons.
Adkins has not been charged before this case.
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