Sheriff's Office Representative
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The investigators that handled those cases found no evidence to substantiate his claims. Law enforcement DSS couldn't verify any of the information.
The investigators that handled those cases found no evidence to substantiate his claims. Law enforcement DSS couldn't verify any of the information.
John Mello, I can tell you that a lot of people at the sheriff's office knew who he was. He was just difficult to deal with. He would always make crazy allegations. And then when you wouldn't take him serious, he would get angry.
John Mello, I can tell you that a lot of people at the sheriff's office knew who he was. He was just difficult to deal with. He would always make crazy allegations. And then when you wouldn't take him serious, he would get angry.
Christina had no idea where her daughter or John was. She didn't know if they were in the United States or overseas.
Christina had no idea where her daughter or John was. She didn't know if they were in the United States or overseas.
OK. Bradley Post agreed to allow us to look at his phone. He signed a consent form, a waiver. He gave us his password. We weren't expecting to find anything. But while reviewing his phone, we found some material that resulted in him being arrested for criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
OK. Bradley Post agreed to allow us to look at his phone. He signed a consent form, a waiver. He gave us his password. We weren't expecting to find anything. But while reviewing his phone, we found some material that resulted in him being arrested for criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
An upstate man facing several charges of sexual exploitation with a minor will remain behind bars.
An upstate man facing several charges of sexual exploitation with a minor will remain behind bars.
I was personally dumbfounded. I couldn't believe that he just handed over that evidence. For these alleged crimes, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
I was personally dumbfounded. I couldn't believe that he just handed over that evidence. For these alleged crimes, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
We had no suspects. And then with the click of a button, it's like, well, we just figured out who did it. Felt like I just won the lottery.
We had no suspects. And then with the click of a button, it's like, well, we just figured out who did it. Felt like I just won the lottery.
We started receiving calls that we had arrested the wrong person.
We started receiving calls that we had arrested the wrong person.
Our immediate suspects were Bradley Post, because he was Christina's fiance and found her deceased, and John Mello, because they had a previous relationship and had a child together. From the ring and security camera footage in the neighborhood, we learned that our suspect appeared to be male, tall and slender, with very good posture, and arrived on a bike.
Our immediate suspects were Bradley Post, because he was Christina's fiance and found her deceased, and John Mello, because they had a previous relationship and had a child together. From the ring and security camera footage in the neighborhood, we learned that our suspect appeared to be male, tall and slender, with very good posture, and arrived on a bike.
We had been working, I don't even know how many hours a day. We had no suspects. Everywhere we were turning, we were just running into dead ends.
We had been working, I don't even know how many hours a day. We had no suspects. Everywhere we were turning, we were just running into dead ends.
When we were able to blow up that footage, we were able to tell the person we were looking for was white. Mr. Manigault is African-American.
When we were able to blow up that footage, we were able to tell the person we were looking for was white. Mr. Manigault is African-American.
I noticed that he's a pianist and there's a lot of articles about him and his accomplishments. I was very surprised. He had no criminal record. I couldn't even find a speeding ticket. Once I have his name, I can pull up every vehicle you have with your license plate within 10 minutes.
I noticed that he's a pianist and there's a lot of articles about him and his accomplishments. I was very surprised. He had no criminal record. I couldn't even find a speeding ticket. Once I have his name, I can pull up every vehicle you have with your license plate within 10 minutes.
A little after 2 p.m. on the day of Christina's murder, there's a picture of his vehicle coming into the downtown area with a black bike in the bed of his truck.
A little after 2 p.m. on the day of Christina's murder, there's a picture of his vehicle coming into the downtown area with a black bike in the bed of his truck.
The handlebars were the same. The brakes were in the exact same place. The frame was the same.
The handlebars were the same. The brakes were in the exact same place. The frame was the same.
He never asked why we were there or what we were doing.
He never asked why we were there or what we were doing.
We obviously want his cell phone. We're looking for the bicycle. We knew Christina Parcell had been stabbed, so we're looking for any objects that could have done that. They have a detached garage at this property, and then we were able to find the exact bike that is on the flat picture in the bed of his truck.
We obviously want his cell phone. We're looking for the bicycle. We knew Christina Parcell had been stabbed, so we're looking for any objects that could have done that. They have a detached garage at this property, and then we were able to find the exact bike that is on the flat picture in the bed of his truck.
Her fingernails were broken, which made us think she fought back. So we believed that DNA could possibly be under her fingernails of her killer.
Her fingernails were broken, which made us think she fought back. So we believed that DNA could possibly be under her fingernails of her killer.
Typically, the people that we deal with for murders, they don't wear suits, they're not pianists. For us, this is just all very unusual.
Typically, the people that we deal with for murders, they don't wear suits, they're not pianists. For us, this is just all very unusual.
And then after that, we took him to our detention center and booked him.
And then after that, we took him to our detention center and booked him.
This man locked up tonight, charged with murder.
This man locked up tonight, charged with murder.
We started receiving calls that we had arrested the wrong person.
We started receiving calls that we had arrested the wrong person.
We were convinced that we had the correct person and that he just made everybody believe he was something that he wasn't.
We were convinced that we had the correct person and that he just made everybody believe he was something that he wasn't.
When we downloaded Mr. Hughes' phone, we obtained over 1,700 WhatsApp messages between Mr. Hughes and John Melo.
When we downloaded Mr. Hughes' phone, we obtained over 1,700 WhatsApp messages between Mr. Hughes and John Melo.
The longer ones, obviously, we couldn't make sense out of, but some of the shorter ones, you can determine what they said.
The longer ones, obviously, we couldn't make sense out of, but some of the shorter ones, you can determine what they said.
We found no evidence that Zachary Hughes knew anything about Bradley Post's alleged behavior prior to the murder.
We found no evidence that Zachary Hughes knew anything about Bradley Post's alleged behavior prior to the murder.
Yes. He made me think he just rehearsed it all. which he is a performer. I felt like he was trying to put on a performance. So I just kept striking.
Yes. He made me think he just rehearsed it all. which he is a performer. I felt like he was trying to put on a performance. So I just kept striking.
We discussed all the evidence we had against John Mello already. And then with Mr. Hughes's new statements, we believe there was enough to move forward with charges.
We discussed all the evidence we had against John Mello already. And then with Mr. Hughes's new statements, we believe there was enough to move forward with charges.
John Mello is charged with solicitation to commit a felony and accessory before the fact of murder.
John Mello is charged with solicitation to commit a felony and accessory before the fact of murder.
The neighborhood where the murder occurred is usually considered a very safe neighborhood. It's an upper scale, low crime area.
The neighborhood where the murder occurred is usually considered a very safe neighborhood. It's an upper scale, low crime area.
He'd owned several businesses and sold them, retired. He's very wealthy. He drives fancy sports cars, lives in a big house.
He'd owned several businesses and sold them, retired. He's very wealthy. He drives fancy sports cars, lives in a big house.