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MURFREESBORO – The Hertford County Sheriff’s Office has launched a homicide investigation after the grim discovery of a lifeless body inside a residence near here Monday night.

Sheriff Dexter Hayes identified the deceased as Tommy Rydell Parker, age 58, of 102 Buena Vista Road, which is located within Wise’s Mobile Home Park.

Hayes was not able to say what caused Parker’s death or how long he had been dead when deputies found his body around 10:30 p.m. on July 6.

“We are waiting on the results of the autopsy,” Hayes told the R-C News-Herald when asked for more specific details about Parker’s death.

Hayes did say his deputies were called to Parker’s residence that night after a neighbor failed to get Parker to answer a knock on his door.

“The neighbor became concerned after they knocked on Mr. Parker’s door several times and he would not answer,” Hayes stated. “At that point, the neighbor contacted us and we responded by performing a welfare check at that residence.”

Hayes added that upon the arrival of his deputies, they also knocked on Parker’s door for several minutes.

“There was no response and no sound of any movement inside,” the Sheriff revealed. “My deputies, at that point, forced their way inside at which time they found Mr. Parker lying unresponsive on the floor. [Hertford County] EMS was summoned to the residence at which point Mr. Parker was pronounced dead.”

HCSO Investigators determined that foul play was involved and are treating this death as a homicide.

If anyone that lives on or near Buena Vista Road and noticed something suspicious or actually witnessed this crime, contact the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office at 252-358-7800. All information is held in strict confidentiality.

“We are working hard to solve this tragic case,” said Hayes. “This is a residential area where homes are very close together. We’re hoping that someone there saw or heard something on the evening of July 6.

“If you know any information, please help us so we can bring these people to justice who are responsible for the death of a father, brother, uncle, and friend to many,” Hayes concluded.