Arkansas State Police investigating deaths of Fordyce couple

FORDYCE, Ark. – The Arkansas State Police have launched a death investigation after an elderly couple was found dead inside their Fordyce home earlier this week.

According to the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance after deputies and Fordyce police responded to a home in the 1700 block of West 4th Street around 11 a.m. Monday. Inside, officers found the bodies of David Parham, 81, and Holly Parham, 70. The Dallas County coroner pronounced them dead at the scene.

The couple’s bodies have been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory to determine the cause and manner of death. Authorities have not confirmed whether foul play is suspected, but neighbors say police reassured them there is no immediate danger to the community.

Mike Rippy, who lives nearby, said he had known David Parham for several years.

“I really didn’t know the lady at all, but Mr. Parham I knew,” Rippy said. “He mowed his lawn quite a bit, and one time he got it stuck in a ditch. My son-in-law and I had to help get it out for him. He was a real nice guy to us.”

Rippy said he was in the lower level of his home when emergency vehicles began arriving on the street.

“I heard ambulance sounds and a number of police cars,” he said. “I looked out, and there were a good number of police there, and they had the yellow ribbon around the house. At first, nobody knew what was going on.”

Rippy said a neighbor eventually told him that the Parhams had died.

“What I was wondering about was, do I need to worry about someone breaking into my house or whatever,” Rippy said. “But a policeman told me I didn’t have to worry about that right now. He said if there were something going on, he’d let us know — but that they’re just investigating.”

Police have since removed the crime scene tape, and no official cause of death has been released.

Rippy said he’s still processing the situation and will miss seeing his neighbor.

“I was concerned,” he said. “I knew David a good bit. I didn’t want to miss that neighbor again.”

Authorities have not announced when the autopsy results are expected. The investigation is ongoing.

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