She traveled to Atlanta from her South Carolina home in hopes of seeing her only son defend himself in a courtroom. But Michael Parson instead waived the Friday morning hearing, and a few hours later, Margaret Parson was headed home.
Outside the Fulton County courthouse, she told the AJC that she still can't believe her son is accused of shooting his wife Adina Parson eight times, leaving her clinging to life outside of the couple's Sandy Springs apartment last month.
"He says he did not do it, and I'm going to believe him until someone proves otherwise," Margaret Parson said. "It's not my Michael. It's not the Michael I raised."
Margaret Parson said she also had hoped to see her daughter-in-law, but that didn't happen either. Adina's family has cut off contact with her, she said.
Margaret Parson said she believed her son and Adina, who married in May 2009, had a happy marriage and were a great match. Michael Parson, a Navy veteran, completed two years of medical school before moving to Atlanta to live with Adina, his mother said.
Adina Parson was also close to her husband's first wife, with whom he shares a teenage son. Saturday evening, Michael Parson Jr. will be graduating from high school, but his father won't be there because he remains in jail without bond.
Investigators say Michael Parson shot Adina Parson, an attorney for the state Department of Public Health, the night of April 20. Arrests warrants obtained by the AJC indicate the man was possibly leading a double life that included being engaged to another woman and faking cancer treatments.
The allegations shocked the couple's friends and relatives.
Margaret Parson said her son told her he has been battling bone marrow cancer, along with back problems, for about two years.
Despite the allegations against her son, the mother said she cares deeply for her daughter-in-law and is praying for her recovery. Adina Parson, who earlier this week spoke for the first time since the shooting, remains at the Shepherd Center.
“Adina’s a very sweet person. She’s a go-getter. She’s a very strong person,” said Margaret Parson. “She would give you the shirt of her back, a great person.”
Since Michael Parson waived the Friday hearing, his case will now go before a grand jury for possible indictment.
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