Pianist Found Guilty of 2021 Murder of Greenville County Woman

GREER, S.C. — Zachary David Hughes, a 29-year-old pianist from South Carolina, was found guilty of murdering 41-year-old Christina Parcell in her Canebrake home in 2021. The verdict was reached during a trial where Hughes admitted to killing Parcell, who was discovered dead in her residence on October 13, 2021.

The Greenville County coroner reported that Parcell suffered multiple sharp force injuries. Throughout his testimony, Hughes described how he planned and executed the fatal encounter. He stated he traveled to the Canebrake neighborhood in his Ford pickup truck, taking back roads to avoid traffic cameras until reaching the vicinity of Parcell’s home.

On that fateful day, Hughes claimed he rode his bicycle to Parcell’s residence, arriving with a gift-wrapped box of roses in hand. “I told her that, while I was holding the box with the roses, that I had a delivery for Lutina Parcell, her sister,” Hughes recounted in court.

Hughes further explained that he had a gun, a knife, gloves, and paint thinner concealed along with the roses. Once inside, and realizing Parcell was alone, Hughes pulled out the gun he insisted was unloaded and commanded her to go inside. The situation quickly escalated, leading to a violent struggle.

“I just kept striking her and striking her until finally, we fell on the floor, and at this point, I had just tried to take my mind out of it and just try to get through this and finish it as quickly as possible,” Hughes testified.

Hughes’s admission and detailed account of the events surrounding Parcell’s death captivated the courtroom. The case has seen numerous developments since her death, including the arrest of John Mellow, the father of Parcell’s child, and allegations against Parcell’s fiancé, Bradley Post, involving child pornography.

The trial’s closing arguments and subsequent verdict mark another significant chapter in a case that has generated widespread attention in the Greenville County area. The consequences of Hughes’s actions not only led to the tragic death of Christina Parcell but also affected the lives of those connected to her.