In Sept. 2017, 63-year-old Tony Parsons was struck and killed by a by Alexander “Sandy” McKellar while riding along a rural road. Instead of helping the injured cyclist, McKellar, along with his twin brother Robert, took action to hide Parsons’ body, leaving it undiscovered for more than three years.
The McKellar brothers returned to the scene, where they placed Parsons’ body, bike, and personal belongings in a truck. They initially concealed the body in a wooded area before moving it to a more secluded spot, typically used for disposing of dead animals. Afterward, they buried him there, along with his belongings, according to the BBC.
Remains not found for years
Search efforts from local authorities, rescue teams, and volunteers were extensive, but Parsons’ remains were not found until January 2021. The case broke open when Sandy McKellar confessed to his girlfriend in 2020. She reported the confession to the police, which led to the discovery of Parsons’ body.
In 2023, Sandy McKellar pled guilty to culpable homicide and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Robert McKellar, who admitted to trying to cover up the crime, received a sentence of five years and three months. Although both brothers were initially facing murder charges, Sandy’s guilty plea to a lesser charge resulted in a change to the trial’s outcome.
Pain of loss
The Parsons family endured years of uncertainty and heartbreak. In a statement read in court, they described Tony as a “much-loved husband, dad, and grandad.” The family shared the pain of not knowing what had happened to him for so long, with one member saying, “When he set off on his charity cycle, none of us imagined it would be the last time we would see him.”
Parsons had been on a long-distance charity bike ride, motivated by his recovery from prostate cancer. The tragic event occurred when McKellar’s car struck him during his journey.
The family also pursued a civil case against McKellar’s car insurer, which was settled out of court, providing some financial relief. While compensation couldn’t undo their loss, it was seen as a small step toward securing the future of Parsons’ loved ones. (I guess.)
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