August 18, 2025 | By: Martilda Jeudy

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

Johnny Parnell loved helping others. “He was a nice, helpful guy, whether he knew the person or not,” said his brother-in-law, Ronald Knight.

The help he was always willing to give to other people stopped over 35 years ago, when 24-year-old Johnny Parnell never came back home after taking a call to help a broken-down motorist. His body was found lying by his tow truck on I-10 near the 273-mile marker in Suwannee County, Florida. Charles Parnell, Johnny’s brother, arrived at the scene with a jacket that their mother, Ida Parnell, gave him to cover the body of Johnny in a gesture of decency, according to an article in the Riverbend News.

Johnny grew up in Live Oak, Florida, and was the youngest of seven. His oldest sister, Denise, said they were very close and always celebrated their birthdays together. JP was his nickname growing up. Johnny always had good grades in school while also being a student-athlete. He loved baseball and found himself interested in trying out different sports. He also loved riding go-karts around his neighborhood. “He would ride go-karts and act like a 6-year-old,” said Ronald. One time, Johnny almost crashed into a sign going fast on the go-kart, and his sister Denise said all they could do was laugh about it.

Johnny was a married U.S. Air Force veteran and died while his wife was pregnant with their first child. His sister Denise said that one of his biggest goals was to be the best father he could be to his son. Denise described Johnny as someone who was mischievous when he was with his friends. He would sneak out with friends, and no one would know. The day that Johnny Parnell died was the day the family was going to have a Christmas party, and everyone was supposed to come together, but things turned around after getting the news.

On the morning of December 4, 1989, around 8 a.m., the family business, Parnell Wrecker Service, received a call to mile marker 273 eastbound in Suwannee County. The call from a motorist call box was from a motorist who had a broken-down vehicle. Johnny decided to take the shift and go out and help the motorist.

Later, two passersby noticed Johnny’s body lying by his truck on the side of the road. They called the police, and when the police arrived, they were able to identify Johnny. Police then contacted Ida Parnell to let her know her son had been murdered.

Based on the evidence at the scene, Johnny had died from a gunshot wound to his chest, and from the way he was lying on the ground, it appeared that he was in the process of loading the vehicle onto his truck.

“He was not even supposed to be the one to go out there,” said Denise. She said it was another brother, Charles, who was supposed to go out there because he was already getting ready for work. Charles Parnell went to the scene after their mother called to tell him that Johnny was found dead. Investigators think that Johnny fought back against the suspect, which provided physical forensic evidence from his clothes. The brothers found it hard to continue with the family business and decided to close after Johnny’s death.

Ronald Knight said he is a free-hearted person, but the incident made him reluctant to trust people. “It’s kind of hard to pick up people if they need help, unless it’s a friend that I know,” said Ronald. Johnny’s sister Denise said that because of how close she was to her brother, his murder tore her up. Ronald Knight, her husband, gave her a lot of support during her grieving moments, she said.

The murder of Johnny took a toll on the family because he was the baby of the family and fun-spirited. They want him to be remembered as someone who was very helpful, outgoing, and friendly.

“I think about him every day,” said Denise. “He even comes up in my dreams.”

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If you have any information regarding Johnny Parnell’s case, please call the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office at (386) 362-2222. If you would like to remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, please call Suwannee County Crime Stoppers at 386-208-8477.

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