The place where a young man lost his life Memorial Day weekend held another big event this Labor Day weekend. Three months after 24-year-old Roderic Sparks was stabbed to death during a fight at the Horse Hole Creek Mud Bog in Inglis, the gates were back open to boggers.
The family of Roderic Sparks say their sons death was no accident and believe big events mixed with drinking makes for tragic outcomes. They say it's too soon for the same deadly combination that killed their son, to happen again.
Levy County deputies say a fight broke out between 24-year-old Roderick Sparks and 30-year-old Christopher Sutherlin when Sutherlin threw a beer can at Sparks' truck because he was revving his engine. The two fought in the mud pit until deputies say Sutherlin's 15-year-old son took matters into his own hands. According to deputies, Christopher Sutherlin Jr., stabbed Sparks in the back, killing him.
Sparks' mother Anna says this weekends event came too soon. Sparks says, "he did say he would never hold another large event as large as it was memorial day weekend well this weekend was supposed to be bigger."
There were no reports of any incidents at Horse Hole Creek this weekend. Christopher Sutherlin Jr. is being charged as a juvenile for manslaughter.