Bits & Pieces

This is the urn containing the cremated remains of Marion Parker.

 

 

On December 15th, 1927 Marion was kidnapped by William Edward Hickman aka "The Fox".

 

 

Hickman pulled Parker from class at Mount Vernon Jr. High claiming her father, Perry Parker, was seriously injured and needed his daughter. Perry Parker was a prominent Los Angeles Banker, and shortly after Marion's abduction, Hickman began sending ransom notes demanding $1,500 for Marion's safe return. Perry Parker and Hickman arranged to exchange the money several days later on the corner of 5th Avenue and Manhattan Street in Los Angeles, following previous failed attempts. Mr. Parker arrived alone and could see Marion sitting in Hickman's car with plastic up to her neck. As soon as Mr. Parker relinquished the ransom money, Hickman pushed Marion out of the car and sped off. But something was wrong; Marion was dead. It was later determined that Marion had already been dead for 12 hours. Prior to the exchange, Hickman disemboweled and dismembered Marion. Later, Hickman confessed that he had intended on dumping Marion's body but figured Mr. Parker would want to see his daughter prior to exchanging the ransom. As a result of Hickman's thought process, he attempted to piece the young Marion back together by wiring her eyes open so  that she appeared alive.

 

 

Hickman was one of the first murderers to plead insanity in California but, ultimately, he could not fool the jury. Subsequently in 1928, Hickman was executed by hanging at San Quentin.

 

 

Locating Marion's niche takes some tact since she is inurned in a section of Forest Lawn-Glendale's Great Mausoleum which is "inaccessible" to the general public. See where that arrow is pointing? That is the door to the section in which Marion rests. In order to be given entrance, you will be interrogated. Ring the door bell and wait for the voice from above. Upon being asked who you are there to see, simply say Marion Parker (most Forest Lawn employees have no clue who this little girl was). They may ask for a relation. I always say she is my Great Aunt. However you would like to be related to Marion is your choice; just keep in mind that she passed in 1927. My first time was a little difficult. I could not remember what the columbarium was called and the woman kept hounding me for the title. If you fall into this situation, just remember to keep the peace... the columbarium is called "Peace". Confidence is always key, so once you are buzzed in, walk with purpose. Take the hallway straight until you come to the stairs; take the stairs down. On the lower level you can only go right. There will be two sets of glass-fronted niches. Marion is in the second set, on the right, above eye level, just passed the entry way to a corridor of crypts.

 

 

Big Brother is watching! If access is successfully achieved, go straight to her niche and then leave. Do not roam around. I cannot begin to stress this enough.

 

As always, happy hunting!