Life in Prison Looms for Killer of Mother, Stepfather

A drug addict who murdered his mother and stepfather is expected to plead guilty today in a deal that would spare him from the gas chamber but put him in prison for life without possibility of parole.

Bradley Charles Parlin, 28, has already signed documents admitting his guilt. The heroin and cocaine addict used a hammer to kill his mother and mortally wound his stepfather. His parents, Jean Eckroad, 64, and Wallace Eckroad, 76, were attacked in their Rancho Bernardo home Sept. 19. She was killed at the scene, he died six weeks later.

Parlin had gone to his parents’ house in an attempt to obtain money to buy drugs, according to statements he made to investigators.

As part of a plea-bargain agreement with prosecutors, Parlin will receive two sentences of life without parole that will run consecutively.

Parlin was filmed by television news crews while behind the wheel of his parents’ stolen van on a wild ride through San Diego County. He led police on a high-speed chase that included a wrong-way run on Interstate 805.

Parlin has confessed to two counts of murder, six counts of robbery and one count of auto theft. He will be sentenced to additional prison time on the robbery charges.

Defense attorney Bill Youmans denied that the recent execution of Robert Alton Harris played a role in Parlin’s guilty pleas. He said life without parole is the best sentence Parlin could have expected at a trial.