Bulic: Gunshot wound to the neck in Parchem death

The continuing investigation into the homicide of 67-year-old Barbara Parchem has taken a turn that has some Historic City News readers questioning why the victim’s daughter, a known probation violator, is walking around free.

Lilly Ann Chavez, Parchem’s daughter, was arrested on two weapons possession charges on May 3 and then released yesterday on $25,000 bond. The drastic reduction in bond on the two second-degree felonies was negotiated by her attorney, Tom Cushman.

Earlier today, 23rd District Medical Examiner, Dr. Predag Bulic, updated his preliminary autopsy report after further examination the postmortem evidence discovered with the body in the area of West Deep Creek in Flagler County on April 30 — three weeks after Parchem went missing.

Bulic had positively identified the decomposing remains as those of Parchem and ruled the death a homicide. Preliminarily, blunt force trauma, a fairly general and non-descript finding, was announced to the media as the cause of death.

We now know that the specific trauma is a gunshot wound to the neck; however, law enforcement press releases have reiterated that the arrest of Parchem’s daughter, although discovered during the investigation of her mother’s murder, was unrelated.

Chavez has an arrest record locally going back to 1996, according to available jail records. Arrests included 12/19/1996, 03/21/2005, 04/08/2008, and again on 10/07/2008; when she was charged with possession of a synthetic narcotic, a first-degree felony, two-counts of fraud, each a third-degree felony, possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, and second-degree felony charges of dealing in stolen property. Additional charges from another agency assisting in the investigation were filed for larceny and burglary — each a third-degree felony.

Anyone with information concerning this crime is asked to contact the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office at (904) 824-8304. You can remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a cash reward by calling CrimeStoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477).