Professional pianist charged in death of Greer woman killed in her Canebrake home
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office has charged 29-year-old Zachary David Hughes with murder in the death of Christina Larain Parcell, who was found stabbed in her Canebrake subdivision home in Greer in October.
Hughes has been accused of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to warrants from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office.
Parcell, 41, died of "multiple sharp force injuries," according to the Greenville County Coroner's Office.
Sheriff Hobart Lewis told reporters during a press conference Thursday that investigators are still trying to determine a motive. Lewis did say that Parcell was targeted.
"We don't know why. We don't know what his motive really was," Lewis said. "We will take this case as far as it goes."
Hughes is a professional concert pianist who traveled the country to perform, according to the sheriff and a website promoting Hughes' work.
The website describes Hughes' background.
"Digging fencepost holes and wrestling rams was as familiar a daily experience for him as dissecting Bach Fugues and scaling Beethoven sonatas, and to this day he values the early connection he formed with nature and hard work," the website says. "Being homeschooled afforded him ample practice time, and his early love of piano was only rivaled by an infatuation with J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Free time not spent practicing piano was employed crafting wooden replica swords from the LOTR books and movies and taking them into the Appalachian woods to do battle with the forces of darkness."
Lewis said physical evidence and surveillance video has implicated Hughes in Parcell's death.
With his attorney alongside him, Hughes turned himself in to authorities late Wednesday, Lewis said. Hughes is being held in the Greenville County Detention Center, according to the Sheriff's Office.
He has no prior criminal record in South Carolina.
"It doesn't look like he has any criminal history," Lewis said.
Initial: 41-year-old woman found dead inside Greer home identified, death ruled a homicide
The Sheriff's Office said they are unaware of the nature of the relationship between Hughes and Parcell.
Parcell has a young daughter who's safe and being taken care of, Lewis said.
"I'm sure there will be a lot of court issues come up and her father trying to get custody of her," Lewis said.
John Joey Mello, indicated as the child's father in court records, was arrested Oct. 25 and charged with violating a custody order, transporting a child under age 16 and not returning her within 72 hours, according to an arrest warrant.
Tamia Boyd is a Michigan native who covers breaking news in Greenville. Email her at tboyd@gannett.com, and follow her on Twitter @tamiamb.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Professional pianist charged in death of Greer woman killed in home
