This wife and mom taken hostage. Was she really a hostage at all . Their relationship was not one of kidnapper and victim. It was one of husband and wife. His prisoner or his lover . I really do love you. Sounds like a pretty heartfelt love letter. In this hour she shares her side of the story. Will you believe her . Let us know on the dateline chat i was fighting for my life. Hello. Welcome to dateline. Im craig melvin. Bobbi parker was a prison officials life, a teacher leading a quiet life with her beautiful family in granite, oklahoma, until the day she went missing. For more than ten years her family waited and hoped, then bobbi was rescued. She said she had been kidnapped. Taken hostage by a dangerous inmate and forced to live on the lam, but her story left investigators wondering was bobbi parker a Woman Held Captive or was she a woman in love. On april 4, 2005, a texas county sheriff near the louisiana border heard there might be a fugitive in his area. I received a telephone call from a local texas ranger. The call led sheriff Newton Johnson and his deputies 65 miles from the nearest big city to a rundown mobile home on a chicken farm. The home of a couple calling themselves richard and samantha deal. If you wanted to hide, is this a good place to do it . Well, if a person keeps a very low profile, a person could stay out of circulation for a while, yes. But the deals had been farmhands here for five years until the law descended on their home. What did he say . I knew you were coming, i just didnt know when. Agents found mrs. Deal working on another farm just down the road. What shape did she seem to be in . Fine. The men were placed in handcuffs, a routine arrest. It turned out the rest of the story was anything but. Thats because richard and samantha deal were not husband and wife at all but instead the oddest of odd couples. His real name was randolph dial, an escaped convict and selfconfessed hitman, claimed to have mob connections, and who also happened to be a talented artist and a relentless schemer. The whole idea after you get to prison is one way or another do your very best to get out. The woman, her real name was bobbi parker, a schoolteacher. The wife of the deputy warden at the prison where he had escaped. More than ten years earlier. Bobbis friend, Brenda Hickerson she was amazing person. She had her life with her family. She volunteered everywhere, at school. What kept these two together for more than a decade was a sensational mystery back in 2005. Now a bizarre twist in an 11yearold story. Escaped prisoner randolph dial was recaptured. A woman missing for more than a decade suddenly discovered alive and well. Everyone was talking. Was it a prison break and kidnapping . Was bobbi parker a hostage . There was no doubt in my mind that she had been kidnapped by this man. Or was she a partner in crime and maybe much more than that. I said, are you all right . She said, yes, im fine, im happy. Nothing made sense. Nothing if you had to pick a woman to star in a sensational true crimes story, you probably wouldnt pick bobbi parker. I grew up on a farm in North Central kansas. I had a normal childhood. For me it was just a very normal upbringing. Bobbi went to college in oklahoma where she caught the eye of randy parker. The way she talked, the way she laughed, there was just something really special about her. He had a balance in his life. He was good for me. He he gave me confidence. They married in 1982 and within four years had two little girls. Bobbi was a teacher and randy worked in corrections. At one point they both worked at the same prison, randy in administration and bobbi teaching inmates with special needs. Beginning of the day we walked in together, at the end of the day we walked out together. Bobbi was named teacher of the year and randy moved up the ranks quickly. In 1992 he was named deputy ward enat t warden in granite. What was lifelike in granite. It slowed down for me and my family but it was good. If there was not much happening in granite, inside the prison it was the opposite. There was a new warden determined to shake things up. His name, jack cowley. I didnt sit behind my desk a lot. I was out in the yard with the guys. I let inmates call me jack. And one inmate that got cowleys attention, randolph dial. He was an unforgotable character, intelligent, manipulative, a quickstudy, meaning that i wasnt going to have any trouble with him. So we hit it off. Dial was one of the most illustrious and infamous inmates in oklahoma back then, a murderer who confessed to killing a karate instructor for money. Told me to get off of his property. And i pulled a piece out and fired once. Yet dial was also an accomplished artist, one of his pieces was featured on the set of the old series dallas. He had all these plans wanting to do something with his art. I wanted to promote the institution and inmates. The warden decided to start an art program where inmates would make pottery to. Is dial would run it from the remarkers garage. In order to do this he would have to be allowed outside the wall. And in order to do that, he would have to have his security clearance lowered to minimum Security Status . Right. What did you know about him . I knew that he was a murderer. He made that clear to everybody. He was said to be very charming, charismatic. Im not sure who put that out. You didnt find him charming or charismatic . No. With time on her hands, bobbi offered to help sell the inmates pottery and dial was eager to teach her the art of making ceramics. He started in the garage and i told him i would prefer it out front. Why did you not want to learn it in the garage . I wasnt comfortable. With him . Yes. Its never good to be oneonone with an inmate. It never is. Nevertheless, she once drove dial into town by herself to meet shop keepers, a trip she said was okayed by warden cowley. Did it strike you as odd that you were given permission to take a convicted murderer off prison grounds . Yes, yes. Not long after that, one hot august morning, bobbi parkers life turned upside down. I just remember being woozy not feeling good. Thinking i was going to be sick. Then it was shortly later then dial was in front of me. Dial, the convicted murderer, was in her home. I remember thinking, what are you doing in here, but then it happened so quickly. He was there holding me up, then my legs went out from under me. The next thing bobbi says she remembers is waking up and well, it doesnt make a lot of sense. She was somehow driving somewhere in texas. She says dial was crouched on the floor, pointing a knife at her. I had blood on my arm and on my leg. By that evening, bobbis husband randy and the whole prison began to realize bobbi was missing, along with convicted killer randolph dial. What did you imagine had happened . Everything from her being kidnapped to her being killed. Everything that was bad. Had bobbi parker been kidnapped . She takes us inside her decadelong drama. Coming up it messes with you mentally when dateline continues. Breathe right strips open your nose up to 38 more than Cold Medicine alone. deep breath breathe better, sleep better. Breathe right. [ chuckles ] so, what are some Key Takeaways from this commercial . Did any of you hear the bundle your home and auto part . I like that, just not when it comes out of her mouth. Yeah, as a mother, i wouldnt want my kids to see that. Good mom. To see wait. Im sorry. What . Dont kids see enough violence as it is . Ive seen violence. Maybe we turn the word bundle into a character, like mr. Bundles. Top o the bundle to you. [ laughter ] bundle, bundle, bundle. 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Thats why verizon and the New York Times are offering 14 Million Students free Digital Access to times journalism. Nothing made sense in the environment that i lived in, in the world that i lived in. In was insanity. On august 30, 1994, bobbi parker, wife of the deputy warden at a prison in oklahoma, said she somehow found herself in texas with a convicted killer. Randolph dial, serving a life sentence, had broken out of prison and escaped in the parker van, and he took bobbi with him. She says shes not sure how it happened, that he may have drugged her, and he had a knife. I just remember at some point there was blood on me, blood on my arm and on my leg, and dial wanted to get those covered. He took me to a store, bought a few items, and i was able to make a phone call. Later, some would find it odd bobbi called her mother, not her husband at the prison. She says she was happy to be calling anyone. Making a phone call to me was a good thing because i was hoping it could be traced. Back in granite, bobbis husband randy was coming to terms with the fact that his wife was missing and so was a convicted murderer. It its just mindnumbing, just get through the day, you know, make sure the girls are doing okay. The parker girls were 8 and 11. I just told them the truth, shes missing, shes gone. They were devastated. The community was devastated. Yellow ribbons, prayer vigils and a huge manhunt ensued. Dial was on the fbis most wanted list. Meanwhile, bobbi says she was in a texas motel at the mercy of randolph dial. He bound my wrist, he bound my ankles, and he beat me with a his dealt. It was a very severe beating, very severe. What i remember him saying is, this is nothing compared to what the people i know can and will do to you. What did he say he would do if you tried to get away . He would either find me or my family and he would harm them, kill them. By this time they ditched her van. She says dial, who claimed to have mob connections, managed to get a hold of some cash and a gun. He put it to my head and he said, this is what happens if you dont cooperate. And i just i nodded. I wanted to get home. Instead, they boarded a bus for houston where she says dial locked her in an abandoned apartment, tied her up and forced alcohol and drugs on her. He has complete control over everything, everything. Hes feeding . Uhhuh. Bathing you . Yeah, cleaning me. Having his way with you sexually when he wants . By instructional, yes. Meaning . By objects. Rape by instrumentation. It is a violent act. It degrades you. It embarrasses you, humiliates you. It messes with you mentally. Days passed, then weeks, then months. Time just ran together. I didnt know always what day of the week it was. It didnt matter. Eight months after bobbis disappearance, in april 1995 the Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed. The fbi focused its resources on that case. The runt for randolph dial and bobbi parker, long since cold, was quietly back burnered. Every time i would hear of a body being found, you know, id hold my breath and wait, but i just wouldnt accept she was dead. By now bobbi and dial were working on a small farm in east texas, dial calling himself richard deal and introducing bobbi as his wife, is a nan thaw. To survive i became samantha. And who was samantha deal . She was lonely, hurt and trying to make it daytoday, minute to minute. When you would approach another human being, did you want to just shout out, im being held against my will, get me out of here . Actually, i became fearful if i did something that was not approved, the revenge of dial was great. Dial seemed ever more confident. In 1997, after three years on the lam, he started a Pottery Company called terra cotta gardens. Dial advertised it on the radio, did an interview on the radio. Unbelievably, the attention led to an invitation for the fugitive killer to speak at a womens luncheon at a local country club. Are very near and dear to my heart. Where were you while he was out front entertaining the ladies who lunch . I was back at the trailer tied up. From there dial and bobbi went to work on an industrial chicker farm owned by debra grace. She never doubted they were married but she could siel that dial was abusive. He was like, i can beat her. Shes my wife, i can beat her. I said, no, not on my farm, you cant. I tried to get her to come to the house. She kept saying no, he wouldnt like that. 2000 they moved again to another bigger, chicken farm. Bobbis daughters were teenagers now. Shed missed five anniversaries with randy. There were times that the loneliness was so great that my body would physically ache. And she says dial never ceased his campaign of terror, killing two of her dogs to punish her, one right before her eyes. He shot the dog. Then he blamed me for it. It was maybe just a dog, but to me it was family. Only once, says bobbi, did she openly defy him. Dial, artistturnedkillerturned fugitive, had already been the subject of a true crime book. And one night he decided to phone the author, an excop named Charles Sasser. He says, for the last seven years weve been making an honest living. Were living a happy country life. We, sasser figured, included bobbi parker, but he wanted proof that she was still alive. He said, of course shes alive. Do you want to talk to her . I was in bed sleeping. He told me he would put me on the phone. I said, im tired, im really tired. And reached back here for his gun. I said i put my hand up, i said he told me, just stick to the questions that he asks you. But even with dial right next to her, bobbi says she dared to go off script. After all, sasser was a former detective. This might be her chance. I said, have you seen my children . I knew id probably be beat for it, but sometimes its worth it. I thought he would say, would you like me to make feen call to them, and he didnt. Still, she says the conversation filled her with hope. I thought the fbi will be here, surely Charles Sasser will call them and theyll be here. Sasser did call the fbi, but he didnt know where bobbi and dial were. No one came. Bobbi says she was broken, resigned to her fate, and the years dragged on until one day in spring, 2005, when her life took another wild turn. Coming up, a rescue is in the works, or was it a rescue at all . Picked up a lot of valentine cards. Valentines . Uhhuh. When dateline continues. To protect your dog from fleas and ticks for a full month. Its the 1 vet recommended protection. And its safe for puppies. Nexgard. What one little chew can do. But when allergies attack,f any the excitement fades. Allegra helps you say yes with the fastest nondrowsy allergy relief and turning a half hearted yes, into an all in yes. Allegra. Live your life, not your allergies. But when allergies and congestion strike, take allegrad. A nondrowsy antihistamine plus a powerful decongestant. So you can always say yes to putting your true colors on display. Say yes to allegrad. Like rock, reggaeton, unite and techno. Lls. To putting your true colors on display. Get ready for the drop wait for it wait for it come on man hit me wait for it just do it already one more time yeah. The World Premiere is now in your home. Mr. Dial had had a violent past. Best opportunities of success is to hit hard and fast. It was april 4, 2005. Bobbi parker and randolph dial had been missing for ten years, seven months, and five days. Bobbi was just finishing up work at a chicken farm near her home. She had no idea the place was surrounded by cops. I was greeted with three Law Enforcement officers in assault gear. Whats the first thing you told them . My name. I actually said my name for the first time in so long. It was a a good feeling, but it was the oddest feeling because i had not used bobbi parker for so long. An anonymous tipster had called authorities after seeing the long cold case on americans most wanted. And just like that, bobbi parker was free. It was a wonderful feeling. It was this is over. This is over. Randy parker still working for the Oklahoma Department of corrections was home that night when he got a frantic call from his boss. As soon as i pick up the phone, he said, im going to get you. He said, bobbis been found. All i could think about was getting to texas as soon as we could. Randy anxiously drove six hours through the dark to east texas while bobbi spent a tearful night in a hotel with thendeputy sheriff donna clayton. It was just a mixture of so many different emotions, you know. The fear, the anticipation. But yet, being afraid to get excited, you know, about seeing her husband and family because, you know, what if they didnt want her anymore. And finally, the moment arrived. After more than a decade, husband and wife were reunited in a hotel lobby. I just walked up to her and put my arms around her. Told her she was going to be okay now. It was very natural to see him, to talk to him, to hug him. Did you see any doubt in his eyes . None. None. You took her back no questions asked . There was no taking her back, it was to go get her and bring her home where she belonged. Taking her back. You dont like those words not, not not for me, no, i dont like those words. Why not . Tell me. It sounds like im doing her a favor when the fact is is shes my wife. Shes been missing. Shes been found finally. And im going to go get her and bring her home. The following day, bobbi and randy returned to oklahoma. She saw her daughters, little girls when shed last seen them, now young women, almost 19 and 22. Randy says they lowered the shades to keep the world out, to try to heal. Did you ask her anything about what she had been through . No. No. I told her that we would start today and move forward. But he could see that bobbi was different. She would say, im going to get a coke, can i have one . Im going to go to the bathroom, is that okay . She was still acting like a prisoner . Yes, she was. It certainly seemed like a triumph of survival and love, except for something the sheriff remembered. The only thing that i heard her say to mr. Dial was, im not cooperating, im not cooperating. Not cooperating with the authorities . Why would bobbi say that after being kidnapped, raped, and tortured by randolph dial for years . Tell dial im not cooperating, but what did that mean . If it came out in the paper that i was coo