Steven Parkus

Case summary

Steven Parkus was convicted of strangulation in the November 1985 death of Mark Steffenhagen, another inmate in the protective-custody unit at the Missouri Penitentiary. He was tried for and convicted of strangulation and later had his death sentence commuted to life in prison. The Missouri Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision that he was mentally retarded, and Parkus would serve a life prison sentence. Parkus had tried to strangle others on three previous occasions and raped a prison teacher.

People

• Steven Parkus — defendant; a Missouri inmate in housing Unit 2-B, a Special Treatment (protective custody) unit.
• Mark Steffenhagen — victim; another inmate in housing Unit 2-B, a Special Treatment (protective custody) unit.
• Larry Weixelbaum — inmate walkman on fourwalk; witness to events near Steffenhagen’s cell.
• Sergeant Richard Hagendorf — corrections sergeant; released a cell lock for cell number 116 and took Parkus into custody.
• Mark Steffenhagen and Parkus were inmates in the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP), in housing Unit 2-B, a Special Treatment (protective custody) unit for prisoners who had been threatened with sexual abuse or had exhibited suicidal tendencies.

Timeline

• November 24, 1985 — Mark Steffenhagen returned from supper sometime between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m.; he was found strangled in his cell about 7:15; Larry Weixelbaum saw Parkus calling and then saw Parkus shove a blanket aside and state he needed to get out of protective custody; Sergeant Richard Hagendorf was notified and released the lock on cell number 116.
• March 20, 1987 — Parkus was sentenced to death.
• April 17, 2007 — The Missouri Supreme Court spared Parkus from execution by upholding a lower court decision that he was mentally retarded; Parkus would instead serve a life prison sentence.

The offence

Mark Steffenhagen was found strangled in his cell about 7:15 on November 24, 1985. The autopsy revealed scrapes on his nose and chin and a cut on the lip suggesting he had been struck by a blunt object such as a fist. Bruises on the back of his hands, wrist and ankles indicated his arms and legs had been tied and that he had struggled. External contusions to the neck as well as internal damage to the larynx demonstrated the cause of death was manual strangulation.

Investigation and discovery of the offence

Larry Weixelbaum described the routine followed by inmates returning to their cells from supper. After leaving the dining hall, inmates returned to their walks and waited at their cells until the guard simultaneously opened all doors; each entered his cell and the doors were locked. On the evening of the murder, Weixelbaum was released from his cell after lockdown to perform his duties as walkman. While moving along the corridor, he noticed that the bars of Steffenhagen’s cell, number 116, were covered by a blanket; he thought little of it because Steffenhagen often put up a blanket for warmth.

At about 7:15, Weixelbaum heard someone calling from Steffenhagan’s cell and saw a hand “waving him over”. He went to the cell and observed Parkus, who was there instead of his own cell. Parkus shoved the blanket aside and said, “man you got to get me out of here”. The light in the cell was then turned on and Steffenhagen was lying on his left side on the bed.

Weixelbaum told Parkus to roll Steffenhagen over to see what was wrong. Parkus said, “man he ain’t breathing, I think I killed him. You are going to have to get me out of here”. Weixelbaum notified Sergeant Richard Hagendorf.

As Hagendorf made his way to fourwalk, he released the lock on cell number 116. When Hagendorf approached the cell, Parkus stepped in the hall and said, “he didn’t do nothing” and tried to walk away. Parkus was ordered to stay in front of the cell while Hagendorf examined Steffenhagen.

Parkus began to run for the stairs but was caught by Hagendorf and was placed in handcuffs and moved to a secure area.

Court proceedings and legal outcome

Parkus was convicted of strangulation in the November 1985 death of Mark Steffenhagen. State of Missouri v. Steven W. Parkus 753 S.W.2d 881 (Mo.banc 1988) was decided by the Missouri Supreme Court. The Missouri Supreme Court spared Parkus, 46, from execution by upholding a lower court decision that he was mentally retarded. As a result of the unanimous ruling, Parkus would instead serve a life prison sentence.

Prior conduct mentioned

The case facts stated that Parkus had tried to strangle others on three previous occasions and raped a prison teacher.

Other details

In undated material connected to the case, a photo provided by the Missouri Department of Corrections showed Missouri inmate Steven Parkus. The legal proceedings included the citation State of Missouri v. Steven W. Parkus 753 S.W.2d 881 (Mo.banc 1988).