Brett Parker, 42, in court.
/ FILE
COLUMBIA (WACH / AP) - A Columbia man who authorities say killed his wife to get $1 million in insurance money, then killed his business partner in an illegal gambling business to try to pin the crime on him has been indicted on two murder charges.
Brett Parker, 42, was indicted by a Richland County grand jury Wednesday. Parker was arrested on July 20, for the April 13 murders.
Prosecutors say Parker was $600,000 in debt and was having two affairs when he killed his 44-year-old wife, Tammy in their home in an upscale Columbia suburb in April.
Authorities say Parker then used a second gun to kill his gambling business partner, 46-year-old Bryan Capnerhurst before calling police.
Parker's attorney calls the accusations by prosecutors ridiculous and says Parker killed Capnerhurst in self-defense after Capnerhurst killed his wife.
A spokesperson for the fifth circuit solicitor's office says the office is completing its own investigation before deciding whether to seek the death penalty.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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