Bond denied for Greenville pianist accused of killing woman

A Greenville pianist accused of fatally stabbing a Greer woman inside her home was denied bond after he asserted his innocence and asked to be released from jail until his trial.

Bond for Zachary David Hughes will be reconsidered after a further examination of DNA evidence, Judge Edward Miller said in Greenville County court Wednesday.

A motion for bond filed Tuesday included details of Hughes' life, his accomplishments and dozens of letters of support from family, friends, past colleagues and mentors. One exhibit filed with the court includes three pages of YouTube links to Hughes' concert series of Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas.

Hughes had asked for a $100,000 surety bond with added conditions that he be on home confinement at either of his parents' homes in the state and that he have no contact with the victim's family.

Christina Larain Parcell, 41, was found stabbed in her Canebrake subdivision home in Greer on Oct. 13, 2021. Parcell died of "multiple sharp force injuries," according to the Greenville County Coroner's Office.

Read more: Professional pianist charged in death of Greer woman killed in her Canebrake home

Hughes, 29, was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to warrants from the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Hobart Lewis said that Parcell was targeted yet investigators were still unclear as far as a motive for the killing.

Hughes is represented by attorneys Mark Moyer and Andy Moorman.

"Zack remains innocent until proven guilty, and he is not guilty of the crimes which the State has charged him," Moyer and Moorman said in an emailed statement.

Hughes had learned of the warrants for his arrest while he was in Michigan and scheduled to fly to Europe the following day for a job. Hughes then turned himself in on Nov. 3, 2021.

An investigation connected Hughes to DNA evidence collected at the scene, according to the Sheriff's Office. Lewis also said surveillance video also implicated Hughes in the crime.

Lewis said at the time of the arrest that they were unclear what connection Hughes had to Parcell or Bradley Post, who was Parcell's partner at the time, according to the motion filed in court.

After Parcell's death, Post was accused of distributing child pornography. He is currently being held at the Greenville County Detention Center on five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the court and jail records.

Letters filed in court show support for Juilliard-trained pianist

The court filing contains more than 52 letters of support from faculty and former classmates at The Juilliard School, lawyers from Greenville and Tennessee, former employers and co-workers and musicians that discuss Hughes' journey as a musician, his service in the military and other work, according to court records.

Some of the letters reference Hughes' character and the trust that others have felt around him including during times spent with him days after the homicide before him being named a suspect.

A professor at The Julliard School where Hughes studied towards his degree in Piano Performance said Hughes is well loved by his friends.

"Knowing Zach for all the years he was at Julliard, and also after his graduation, I know with certainty that he is absolutely no threat to anyone. There is nothing I know of nor can point to that would make me worry about his release. In fact, his release would only continue to demonstrate that he is still the same responsible man I know him to be," Professor of Music Kendall Durelle Briggs wrote in one letter.

DNA, other evidence under scrutiny

During the bond hearing, it was revealed that Hughes' phone was encrypted and the State was not able to access what they believe may have valuable evidence.

According to 13th Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins, without a passcode from Hughes, it could take up to two years to retrieve information from his device.

Parcell's fingernails were processed for DNA and results showed Hughes' DNA was under her fingernails, according to Wilkins.

According to Moyer and Moorman, they did get an email Wednesday morning about picking up DNA test results.

Melinda Hughes, Zachary's mother, said she had never seen any violence from her son.

"There is no way I can imagine him doing this. He's brought us nothing but joy," Melinda Hughes said during the hearing.

Wilkins said Hughes was very involved with the custody battle between Parcell and John Mello, who is the father of Parcell's daughter, according to court records.

"He knew everything," Wilkins said.

Lutina Parcell, Christina Parcell's sister, said she was fighting for custody for her niece.

"They say there's no connection to my sister, there is one. More importantly, that is the same connection he has with me as I'm fighting for custody for my niece. That means every ounce of hatred that man brought to my home against my sister is now pointed at me," Lutina Parcell said.

Wilkins said they were satisfied with the judge's ruling.

Hughes has no prior criminal record in South Carolina.

Parcell was the mother of a young girl who is being cared for, Lewis said.

Check back for more on this developing story.

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: Pianist accused of murder of Greer SC woman has bond denied