Tulsa Homicide Suspect's Past Includes Other Car Crashes

By Lori Fullbright, The News on 6

TULSA, OK -- The News On 6 has learned the suspect accused of stealing a man's work truck then running over and killing him last month, has been involved in other terrible car crashes.

After William Parris was charged with murdering Stephen Stewart, The News On 6 began digging into Parris' past. It was discovered that two people were nearly killed and one man was, while Parris was behind the wheel.

When Stephen Stewart saw William Parris taking off with his Metro Builders Supply truck, Stewart blocked in Parris with his personal truck and then jumped out to confront the thief.

Police say Parris hit the gas and pinned Stewart between the two trucks. Stewart died as a result.

7/13/2009  Related Story: Victim's Daughter Calls Tulsa Homicide Senseless

Records show 13 years earlier, Parris was also behind the wheel when he killed another man, but no charges were ever filed.

Records show best friends, 24-year-olds Bobby Mongold and John Collier, were walking across Charles Page when Parris hit both men. Mongold was killed and Collier was put in a wheelchair.

"I hit the grill and bumper and Bobby went up and over and was 80 feet from point of impact and I was 60 feet from the point of impact," said John Collier, a crash victim.

The OHP report indicates Bobby and John had been drinking and stepped into the street, so no arrest or charges followed, but John says witnesses told him Parris swerved into them. He was also told Parris later admitted he was at fault, but put partial blame on his girlfriend.

"He said he was arguing with her and didn't realize he was drifting off the road," said John Collier.

John lost his best friend, his ability to walk and his job.

Nothing happened to Parris until four months later when he veered across the road in a stolen car and slammed head on into a woman's car. She had massive injuries.

Parris was sentenced to 15 years, but served less and had been out of prison about eight months, when police say he killed Stewart.

"It's sad somebody else had to die for it. It's not right. He should've been charged with this when Bobby was killed," said John Collier.

Parris now faces a murder charge. John has offered to help Stewart's family make sure if Parris is convicted, that he goes away for life.

Parris' next court date for the murder charge is September 1st.