Are you saying the key really will not go to the start position? Or just that the car won't engage the starter at all?
And did you REALLY turn the key off and THEN put the car in park? If so, I can see why you are having problems.

Cant' really help you until you make clear what is going on.

THIS is odd:
and put in park. I discovered that the shifter was now stuck in park, I used a screwdriver to get out of park. I put it back in park to start
Just what did you do? How did you know the shift was stuck in park and why try to move the shift with the key off? It only moves from park with the key ON and your foot on the brake pedal. THat is how it is designed.