The murder trial for Sam Parker, an ex-cop accused of killing his wife, begins today and is expected to last three weeks, with more than 100 witness being called to the stand, Walker County sheriff Steve Wilson said.

The prosecution leased the former Walker County Messenger building at 120 E. Patton St. in downtown LaFayette to set up headquarters for the investigation. The building is being used by district attorney Leigh Patterson, her staff and investigators.

Patterson, who is district attorney in Floyd County, took over the case after the local dis-trict attorney removed himself because of possible conflict of interest. Wilson said Patterson needed to set up headquarters in the building since she and her staff are from out of town.

Parker’s trial begins today in Walker County Superior Court before Judge Jon “Bo” Wood. A jury was picked earlier this week in Bartow County. The jury will not be sequestered; it will be bused from and back to Bartow County each day.

Parker was charged in February 2008 with murdering his wife Theresa, a dispatcher with Walker County 911 who has been missing since the night of March 21, 2007. Her body has not been found. Sam Parker was a sergeant with the LaFayette Police Department when she disappeared.