Brian Parnell is currently serving a life sentence in prison for a 1997 murder that he did not commit.
He was convicted after a hasty two-day trial rooted in two four-year-old partial fingerprints and despite DNA evidence that excludes Brian. He has always maintained his innocence, fighting tirelessly for his exoneration for 20 years.
WHY BRIAN PARNELL DESERVES JUSTICE
Brian Parnell was an automotive technology student dreaming of owning his own auto shop when he was arrested for the murder of someone he’d never met. Learn why the case should be reopened, and how you can help.
ABOUT THE CASE
On August 28, 1997, Konstantinos "Gus" Boulias was murdered in what police believed to be an attempted robbery in his home, while his family slept nearby. Across town in West Philadelphia, more than 20 miles from the crime scene, Brian was on crutches with a sprained ankle. He spent the evening with his girlfriend, cousin and girlfriend’s sister.
In 2001, after the case went cold for four years, the IAFIS fingerprint database identified Brian as one of many potential candidates. The lead detective, who was also the Commonwealth’s fingerprint expert, matched Brian’s left index finger to a partial fingerprint found on the victim’s dining room window screen, thought to be the point of entry. Despite the print being a partial print, and questions about the chain of custody of the evidence, the detective was so confident in this match that he didn’t check the other candidates. The detective later matched Brian’s right index finger to an even smaller partial print taken from the window screen. This was the only evidence presented against Brian at trial. In fact, pre-trial DNA testing excluded Brian as the contributor of DNA in a hair found on a mask worn by the perpetrator. The contributor of that DNA has never been identified.
For 20 years, Brian’s countless appeals and petitions have been denied by the judicial system. He’s been victim to ineffective counsel, a faulty investigation and inadequate evidence. It’s time this injustice is overturned.
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Brian became a suspect in the case four years after the crime when the FBI’s IAFIS database returned Brian as one of many candidates to be compared to a partial fingerprint left at the crime scene.
DNA found at the crime scene and connected to the perpetrator excluded Brian. A hair found on a pair of stockings fashioned into a mask was tested using mitochondrial DNA testing before trial. Brian was excluded. The person whose hair was found on the mask has not been identified. DNA testing done in 2012 failed to yield any new results.
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After only two days in court, plus one day of jury selection, Brian was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Legal counsel failed to point out that there is no DNA connecting Brian to the crime, and didn’t call numerous alibi witnesses and family members who saw his ankle injury weeks ahead of the crime.
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According to Pennsylvania law, if someone is present at the time of a murder, they can be convicted of second-degree murder, which carries a life sentence.
Even though Brian has an alibi for the night of the murder, he has served 20 years of a life sentence for this crime. The murderer and murder weapon have never been found.
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6 THINGS TO KNOW
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The victim was a target.
The victim, Gus Boulias, owned two pizza restaurants, and it was common knowledge among his employees and the community that Gus frequently carried large amounts of cash and stored even more cash at home.
Many employees joked about robbing Gus. At the time of the murder, there was nearly $50,000 in cash hidden in the rafters of Gus’s home office in the basement.
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Partial, rain-damaged fingerprints are all that links Brian to the case.
There is no DNA connecting Brian to the scene; hairs from a nylon stocking mask and a hat found at the scene were not a match to Brian.
In 2001, four years after the crime, Brian’s name was one of many possible matches made, but detectives never followed up on the other possibilities.
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Brian was injured, making it unlikely for him to flee a crime scene.
Brian sprained his ankle playing basketball with friends. He borrowed crutches from his sister, Tamara.
Days before the murder, a fight erupted between his girlfriend Keysha and Brian’s ex-girlfriend Alida that spilled out into the street. Neighbors gathered outside during the commotion and there are eyewitnesses to confirm that Brian was on crutches.
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Brian has an alibi that was never presented at trial.
On the night of the murder, Brian was in West Philadelphia, 20 miles from the crime scene, on crutches with a sprained ankle. He spent the evening at his girlfriend LaKeysha’s house along with her sister, Jovita, and Brian’s cousin, Maurice.
Maurice was present at the courthouse, but never given the chance to testify.. Neither were family members and friends who could confirm his injuries.
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Brian did not receive a fair trial.
The initial trial lawyer declined to submit a motion to challenge the partial fingerprint match, making it more challenging to exclude later. Brian attempted to fire his attorney after he didn’t follow up on leads or take his calls.
His legal team’s defense? No defense at all. One lawyer missed more than half of the 2-day trial. The team never verified the conference where the alleged fingerprint ‘match’ was made or investigated the troubling chain of custody for the fingerprint.
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The murderer was never found.
Due to the lack of evidence placing Brian at the crime scene, the prosecution pivoted their theory away from him as the shooter to the idea that he had participated as an accomplice.
DNA testing which excluded Brian shows that someone else was in the house and wore the mask belonging to the perpetrator. That person has never been identified.
No physical evidence, DNA or social or geographic connections tie Brian to the crime, indicating that the real killer is still at large.
Who is Brian Parnell?
“I like to think of myself as a fun, loving, God-fearing man. I tend to believe that I've always had a great sense of humor. I am deeply rooted within my family. Before my arrest, I was in school for a career in automotive technology, with the hopes of one day opening my own automotive shop. I love cars, motorcycles, trucks and engines. I've worked since I was 16 years old, mainly in the food industry: movie theaters and in janitorial. I enjoy carpentry work as well, often working with my brother Neal. My goal was to build a car -- a race car that I could show off at the local race track.
Since my incarceration, I have been focused on proving my innocence. I study the law avidly; I assist many guys with their legal work as well as working on my own. I have even helped out some corrections officers with the law for their family members. My goal and focus once proven innocent: I will, advocate for the wrongfully-accused and help change the laws that result in mass incarceration.”
--Brian Parnell, 2021
HEAR FROM BRIAN’S FAMILY
“My faith in God and Brian keeps me motivated. Brian is fighting hard for his case behind the prison walls. If he can fight, so can I. I believe that the truth will come out and Brian will be found innocent. Brian is the father of two sons and one daughter. He has two beautiful granddaughters. He is a caring, strong and confident man. He has fought hard and continues to not give up on proving his innocence. At times he inspires and motivates me to be the best version of myself.”
— Tamara Parnell, Brian’s Sister
“In my eyes, my dad was always my big best friend. We would play games together, watch Power Rangers, and play catch. One thing about my father though, is even in his situation, he never missed a birthday, and he was as much a part of my life as other fathers who weren’t imprisoned at the time. He would always call and steer me away from trouble and made sure that I always thought about the consequences my actions might cause. I am fighting so that, even though he missed out on my childhood, he won’t miss out on his grandchildren. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that my father is innocent and would love it if he was able to spend as much time with his friends and family as possible. The world has changed so much, many key people in our family are no longer here, and he has lost so much in the past two decades.”
-Brian Jr., Brian’s Son
“Brian is my dad and was taken away from me when I was a baby and I’m still fighting after 20 years to have my father back with his family. What keeps me motivated is my dad and knowing that we will get the proper justice we deserve without a doubt.”
— Briana Parnell, Brian’s Daughter
“I'm fighting because I know he is innocent, he's not someone who would or could harm anyone. I met Brian 2 years before his incarceration and we always had the best time together. I know his character and heart. He has a heart of gold. ”
— Karen Johnson, Brian’s Friend
Have a tip?
If you know something about this case or have information that could help Brian, please email us at JusticeForBrianParnell@gmail.com.