The Rose Petal Murder: What Happened to Christina Parcell and Where John Mello Stands Today
The gruesome 2021 slaying of one young woman in Greer, South Carolina, rattled the small town. She had been stabbed more than 30 times, and the crime scene, littered with rose petals, seemed a mix of the personal and the brutal.
As ABC’s 20/20: The Rose Petal Murder details, her ex-boyfriend John Mello, her fiancé Bradley Post, and her friend Zachary Hughes would all become embroiled in an interwoven investigation.
Zachary was convicted of murder, though Mello’s role has been revisited. This article explains the case, the custody battle, the arrest timeline, and where Mello is today, using simple, straightforward language to make this ongoing story accessible and relatable to readers.
A Rocky Past For John Mello And Christina Parcell
John Mello and Christina Parcell began dating in 2008. They had a daughter in 2012, but their relationship broke up a few years later. By 2015, Mello had petitioned for and received sole custody. Christina would later ask for visitation, but their relationship soured after Mello accused her and her new partner of abuse.
Their court battle went on for years. Mello later relocated to Italy with their child, but Christina also moved to Italy and returned with their child to South Carolina. Courts found that Mello could not take the child out of the U.S. without permission.
The Day Christina Was Killed
Christina was discovered dead in her grandmother’s home, stabbed more than 30 times, surrounded by rose petals, on October 13, 2021. Detectives believed it was a crime of passion. At the time, Mello was in Italy, but her fiancé, Bradley Post, and friend Zachary Hughes were at the home. Hughes, though Post was the one charged with child pornography, remained the focus of the investigation. Video footage and later DNA evidence linked him to the murder scene.
Mello’s Involvement In The Investigation
Although he was thousands of miles away, the police had to investigate Mello, given the custody battle. After returning to the United States, he brought his daughter back too, flouting a court order.
He was busted for custodial interference a few days after the slaying. Mello did have full custody, and the charge was dismissed in 2024. But that wasn’t the end of it. Fresh claims would soon drag him back to the courtroom.
The Testimony Of Zachary Hughes Turned Everything Around
“When Zachary Hughes took the stand in 2025 and told the court that Mello approached him initially with an offer of $5,000 and later $10,000 to murder Christina, the jury was aghast. Mello told him Christina was a drug user and a threat to their child, he said.
Hughes said he turned down the money but killed her anyway because he felt he was defending the girl. While that claim was held inadmissible, the jury still heard it. Hughes was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Here’s Why John Mello Was Arrested Again
Shortly after Hughes’ testimony, Mello was arrested a second time by police. He was accused of accessory before the fact to murder and solicitation to commit a felony. Investigators discovered messages where Mello gave Hughes Christina’s number and told him to “harass the sh*t out of her.”
Prosecutors also accused Mello of harassing Christina by sharing nude photographs of her with neighbors and co-workers during heated disputes over their shared custody of the child. Mello has pleaded not guilty to all counts and remains in jail with no possibility of posting bond.
Where Is John Mello Now?
John Mello is being held at the Greenville County Detention Center and is waiting for trial. He is 64 years old. He and his lawyers claim that he had nothing to do with the murder. But the state claims Mello hounded Hughes into the kill with pressure, manipulation, and anger. In the coming trial, we will learn if Mello’s reported actions crossed the line between concern and conspiracy.
FAQs
Why did someone kill Christina Parcell?
Investigators say it was a targeted attack, perhaps over a custody battle and accusations about her parenting.
Who killed Christina Parcell?
Her killer, Zachary Hughes, was imprisoned for life in 2025.
Was John Mello in S.C. when Christina died?
No. He had been in Italy, but was arrested there on a charge of plotting the killing.
What were the charges against John Mello?
He is charged with accessory before the fact to murder and solicitation to commit a felony.
What is ‘The Rose Petal Murder’?
20/20 uses the moniker “20/20” to describe Christina Parcell’s case because rose petals were among the evidence at the crime scene.
Final Words
The Rose Petal Murder is not just a sad crime story; it’s a tale of custody battles, legal curveballs, and astonishing testimony. Christina Parcell died a gruesome death. And now, her former boyfriend, John Mello, is on trial for determining whether he helped make that tragedy happen. With national media examining the case, the truth is still emerging in real time.
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