A 19-year-old Gordon County man remains behind bars in Bartow County after authorities say he allegedly attempted to strangle his mother, stole her vehicle and led police on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash.
According to published reports out of Bartow County, Elijah Jase Parker, 19, faces multiple felony charges following the incident, which began Thursday night, October 22, in Cartersville.
Parker has been charged by Cartersville Police with aggravated assault by strangulation, false imprisonment and felony theft by taking. Adairsville Police have also charged him with felony attempting to elude a police officer, reckless driving, driving without a license and additional traffic violations.
According to reports, Parker’s mother told Cartersville officers she had allowed her son to drive her Chevrolet Tahoe in a parking lot despite knowing he did not have a valid driver’s license.
After the two switched seats, Parker allegedly began choking his mother and prevented her from leaving the vehicle.
The woman eventually escaped and ran to a nearby restaurant for help. She reportedly told investigators she believed her son would have killed her if she had not managed to get away.
Parker allegedly fled the scene in the Tahoe.
Authorities later used a phone ping to locate Parker in the Adairsville area, where officers spotted the vehicle traveling on Hall Station Road.
Around 11:52 p.m., Adairsville officers attempted to stop the Tahoe near State Route 140, but Parker allegedly refused to pull over, leading police on a pursuit that reached speeds between 70 and 98 mph.
The chase continued onto Old Dixie Highway and Joe Frank Harris Parkway toward the Gordon County line.
According to reports, Parker attempted to make a turn, lost control of the Tahoe and struck a Kia Optima that was stopped at a stop sign. The Tahoe then left the roadway and came to rest in a treeline.
The driver of the Kia complained of leg pain following the collision, and emergency personnel responded to the scene.
Parker was taken into custody following the crash.
Investigators reported that Parker later told an Adairsville officer he had been trying to kill his mother and had placed a plastic bag over her head during the attack. He allegedly admitted stealing the vehicle after she escaped.
Parker also reportedly told officers he fled the attempted traffic stop because he knew he did not have a driver’s license.
He was transported to the Bartow County Jail, where he remained in custody at the time of the published reports.
Jail records also indicate Parker was previously arrested on September 14, 2026, on a misdemeanor charge of terroristic threats and acts.
The charges against Parker are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.