By NC WANTED Staff

Posted: Apr 9, 2009
Updated: Apr 10, 2009

ALL COUNTIES — NC WANTED has confirmed that one of our "worst of the worst" Target Twenty fugitives is back in Maryland to finally face justice for his violent history of rape and murder.

Gary Parham, 29, was arrested in Miami, Florida and extradited to Prince George's County , Maryland, where he faces one count of first-degree murder, two counts of armed robbery and two counts of sexual assault. He had ties to the Fayetteville, N.C., and authorities believe he was hiding out there for some time.

In January, an informant called NC WANTED to report that Gary Parham, who she knew as Jaylin Hart, was in Miami. She later assisted authorities in luring Parham outside where officers were waiting to arrest him.

According to the Miami Herald, the officers were honored by the Miami-Dade police department for capturing the "worst of the worst." During the arrest, Parham tried to get back inside the apartment where he was staying and said he would never go back to jail. A physical altercation ensued, but luckily, Parham was stopped from returning inside, where authorities later found weapons and ammunition.

Parham received medical treatment after the arrest and his booking photo was taken about two weeks later. The extent of his injuries was not released.

On March 25, 2005, police responded to the 2000 block of Treetop Lane in Montgomery County, Maryland after reports of a robbery. The initial investigation revealed that two women were inside the home and allowed Parham and an unidentified man inside. Once inside, Parham threatened the victims with a handgun and forced them into another room, where he sexually assaulted them. Parham and the other man fled the scene. Investigation by detectives has determined that the second man was not involved in the robbery or sexual assaults.

Theodora Cooper, 26, was found by her fiance in the hallway of her apartment building in August 1998. She had been stabbed more than 30 times. In 2005, authorities resubmitted DNA evidence and found a definitive match: Gary Parham, Jr. He had been released from prison just a few days earlier and has been on the run ever since.

Since his arrest, victims of Parham's wide net of horrific crimes have been able to breathe a sigh of relief. One victim, who asked not to be identified, wrote:

"There will never be words to truly describe how the capture of Gary Parham made me feel. The struggle and emotions I have experienced will never compare to what the Cooper family has gone through. The day I found out that Parham was captured I actually felt like the Cooper family could breathe again. Not only was this monster behind bars but he would never be able to harm another person again. Thanks to the hard work & dedication of NC WANTED, and the Miami-Dade Police Department this monster will finally have to face what he has done in life. I hope that any other women that may have been attacked by Parham who have not come forward will finally feel like they can."

An 8-year-old girl, who was 4 when Parham shoved a gun in her face during one of his crimes, also wrote a letter -- to Parham himself.

"To the Monster.

From: the 8 year old who hates you.

How can you do this to me? Would you like it if I put a gun in your face?" (you can read the girl's letter by clicking the link in the gray sidebar at right.)

The victims affected by Parham's history of violence will likely never forget the trauma he put them through, but at least now they find small comfort knowing that this "monster" is finally behind bars.