Kenneth James Parks was a happily married man who had a five-month-old daughter — and a long history of parasomnia.

Early on the morning of May 24, 1987, he drove roughly 14 miles to his in-laws’ home, broke in, assaulted father-in-law Dennis Woods, and then stabbed his mother-in-law to death. Parks managed to drive himself to the police station where he appeared confused, asked for help, and was quoted as saying, “I think I have killed some people… my hands.”

At the time, Parks was experiencing deep financial problems due to a gambling addiction. Out of desperation, Parks began stealing from his family’s savings and embezzling at work. In March 1987, he was caught and consequently fired from his job.

That May, he began to attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings and finally made plans to tell his in-laws the truth about his addiction on the 24th, the same day of the murders.