Remains of missing woman found; Suspect charged with murder

Debra Ruth Henderson

ENNIS - The remains of a missing Palmer woman are believed to have been found on the 4500 block of FM 879 over the weekend.

Marian P. Parsons, 54, has been missing since Wednesday, Dec. 1 of last year.

According to Detective Jason Westmoreland of the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, they were called out Saturday, March 19, in the afternoon, after a husband and wife were taking their trash out and noticed a human skull on their neighbors property.

Upon arrival, ECSO detectives uncovered what appeared to be a "shallow grave" with the rest of the woman’s remains.

Debra Ruth Henderson, of Ennis, was arrested on Saturday, March 19 on charges of credit card abuse and bonded out on $15,000.

Westmoreland said after Henderson, 53, bonded out she was picked up and arraigned by Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Curtis Polk and charged with murder on a $100,000 bond Monday, March 21.

"Further details are pending until the investigation is complete," said Westmoreland. Parson’s was reportedly last seen at the Ennis IHOP Wednesday, Dec.1 around 11:30 a.m.

Parsons boyfriend returned to their Palmer home that evening at approximately 8:30 p.m. and observed the front gate of the residence locked and Parsons truck in the driveway. The truck was left unlocked in the driveway.

The unidentified boyfriend entered the residence after unlocking the door knob and noticing the deadbolt had not been secured.

A search has been conducted by the ECSO since Parson’s was reported missing on Friday, Dec. 3, nearly 48 hours later.