Teacher identified as victim killed in crash with driver of stolen car

BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. — Police have identified a woman killed in a crash with a man in a stolen car as a longtime Bartow County schoolteacher.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, a trooper tried to stop Christopher Tyler Parker, 20, of Blountsville, who was speeding in a Mini Cooper at 95 mph Friday night. Parker did not stop and a chase started.

Troopers said Parker hit two cars. Angela Walker Townsend, 55, was leaving the library when Parker blew through a red light and slammed into her car. She died at the scene.

The other driver struck was taken to a hospital.

Channel 2′s Michael Seiden spoke to Townsend’s daughter, Baylee Bagley.

“I already miss her like crazy,” Bagley said to Seiden at her home in Adairsville on Sunday. Bagley told Seiden about the heartbreaking moment she saw her mother’s car and knew she was gone.

“I saw her car, and then I ran toward her and hit the ground,” Bagley said. “That’s about all I can remember.”

On Sunday, the Bartow County School System released a statement about the loss of Townsend, who was a teacher at White Elementary School and Cass High School.

“Less than 24 hours ago, the Bartow County School System tragically lost Angie Townsend, a White Elementary School Warrior, paraprofessional of 23 years and someone many students affectionately called ‘Mom’ or their special friend,” a spokesperson said.

The school system said Townsend worked as a special needs paraprofessional, kindergarten paraprofessional and most recently a pre-K paraprofessional and after-school teacher.

“Mrs. Townsend was such an amazing part of the White Elementary Family,” Principal Amy Heater said in a statement. “She was truly a devoted staff member who put the needs of our children before her very own. She always had an amazing smile, sense of humor, and a determined, unbreakable spirit. She is going to be missed dearly. We would like the community to keep our school and Mrs. Townsend’s family in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

The school system plans to dedicate a butterfly garden to Townsend during a memorial service in the coming days.

For extra support, several counselors and instructional lead teachers from different Bartow County schools will be on hand at White Elementary School to assist where needed.

The Bartow County School System said it will follow the advice recently shared by one of Townsend’s co-workers and friends:

“Carry on with Mrs. Townsend’s legacy of love, laughter and unbreakable spirit of faith.”

Parker is being charged with felony vehicular homicide, felony fleeing and attempting to elude, felony receiving stolen property and felony bringing stolen property across state lines. Parker stole the Mini Cooper from his grandmother, troopers say.

Seiden learned that Parker has been arrested for multiple crimes in Alabama.

Townsend’s family told Seiden they are now hoping to work with lawmakers to develop a bill that will put a stop to police pursuits so no other family has to endure the pain they are feeling.

New police documents reveal suspect was involved in domestic dispute with his grandmother before deadly chase

The day before Parker led state troopers on a high-speed chase that ended in a deadly collision that killed Townsend and injured another motorist, the 20-year-old was involved in a domestic dispute with his grandmother, according to new documents obtained by Channel 2 Action News.

On Feb. 21, Parker’s grandmother called the Blount County Sheriff’s Office and reported that her grandson had stolen her car after she kicked him out of her home, police documents confirmed.

“Victim stated the offender came to her residence to find his wallet,” the deputy wrote in the report. “Victim stated she told the offender to leave and that she didn’t want him at her house.”

Parker’s grandmother told deputies that she “shut the door” and “locked the offender out,” before she looked out the window and noticed her headlights were on, according to the incident report.

Parker’s grandmother also reported that the spare key to her car had been missing for a week and she suspected he used it to steal her car.

Seiden reached out to Parker’s grandmother by phone Tuesday. She told him that she heard about what happened in Georgia and then hung up the phone.

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