Man charged with strangling his 73-year-old wife in Mission Viejo

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15HF0136

February 5, 2015

HUSBAND CHARGED WITH STRANGLING-MURDER OF WIFE IN THEIR MISSION VIEJO HOME

SANTA ANA – A husband will be arraigned today for strangling and murdering his wife in their Mission Viejo home. Gary Lee Parsons, 74, is charged with one felony count of murder. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. The defendant is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned today, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

In the early hours of Feb. 3, 2015, Gary Parsons is accused of engaging in an argument with his wife, 73-year-old Barbara Parsons, inside their home. The argument escalated to a physical altercation and the defendant is accused of throwing the victim onto their bed and strangling her until she was unresponsive. He is accused of tucking her into the bed and leaving the home in his car. Gary Parsons is accused of calling a family member, who then called the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) to report the crime.

At approximately 12:30 p.m., OCSD received a call from the defendant and deputies arrived at the Mission Viejo home shortly thereafter. The defendant is accused of arriving home and parking in the driveway. After entering the home and finding Barbara Parsons deceased in her bed, OSCD deputies arrested the defendant.

OCSD investigated this case.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Larry Yellin of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718