Mother's Day slaying blamed on cheap gift

A Mother's Day argument escalated into the fatal stabbing of Clifton Barkin, 22, allegedly by Paige Parkerson at a home on Pope Street early Monday morning. Parkerson was taken to the police station for questioning and was later arrested for first degree murder. Photo taken Monday, May 14, 2012 Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less A Mother's Day argument escalated into the fatal stabbing of Clifton Barkin, 22, allegedly by Paige Parkerson at a home on Pope Street early Monday morning. Parkerson was taken to the police station for ... more Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Mother's Day slaying blamed on cheap gift 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

BEAUMONT — Evetta Wright said she was puzzled when she got a call early Monday from her son.

Not long before, around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, she'd dropped Clifton “JR” Barkin off at his house after taking him to Wal-Mart to buy flowers and a Mother's Day card for Paige Parkerson, the mother of Barkin's two small children.

When she answered the phone, she said Parkerson was on the line.

“Paige told me she killed JR, that he was dead,” Wright said through sobs.

Wright said she sped back over to her son's house, but it was too late.

Barkin, 22, was stabbed several times and died just after midnight Monday in the backyard of his yellow rental house. Wright said she believes Parkerson expected a more expensive gift, such as jewelry.

Parkerson, 20, is being held in Jefferson County Jail on a first-degree felony murder charge with bail set at $75,000.

The couple's two sons were asleep at home during the incident. Both are now with relatives.

armoore@beaumontenterprise.com