Tony Parsons Cyclist Murder Mystery: Twin Suspects, How It Happened — And How A Can Of Red Bull Helped Find His Body

On a quiet September evening in 2017, Tony Parsons set off on a 104-mile solo charity cycle from Fort William to his home in Tillicoultry, Scotland and never came back.

Parsons was a retired naval officer and a 63-year-old grandfather who had survived prostate cancer and was raising funds for others facing similar battles. When he vanished without a trace, his family were left in limbo. For years, there were no answers, but that changed three years later, thanks to a discarded can of Red Bull.

Now, a new BBC documentary, Murder Case: The Vanishing Cyclist, is revisiting the long and painful hunt for the truth.

What Really Happened on the A82

According to reports, Tony was struck by a car on the A82 near Bridge of Orchy on September 29, 2017. The driver, Alexander McKellar, was drunk. Instead of calling for help, he left Tony injured by the roadside and fled the scene.

Later, he returned with his twin brother, Robert. Reports revealed that the two men allegedly moved Tony's body to nearby woods before eventually burying him in a shallow grave on the Auch Estate, a site the McKellars knew as a dumping ground for dead animals. It would be more than three years before the grave was discovered.

Forensic evidence would later confirm that Tony had survived the initial impact. He was alive for around 30 minutes after being hit. Had help been called, his life might have been saved.

Anonymous Tips And Dead Ends

In August 2018, police received an anonymous letter suggesting they look into 'the twins' who had been in the local hotel the night Tony disappeared. The McKellars were questioned, but with no body and no clear evidence, the case stalled.

Tony's family, refusing to give up hope, continued their appeals, urging anyone with information to come forward. Still, no breakthrough came until 2020.

The Red Bull That Changed Everything

The turning point came when Alexander McKellar confessed the truth to his then-fiancée, Caroline Muirhead, a pathologist. He told her what had happened and even took her to the burial site.

Knowing she needed to help but fearing for her safety, Caroline came up with a plan. She dropped an empty can of Red Bull at the grave so she could later guide police to the exact spot without arousing suspicion.

On December 27 2020, she made a formal report to the police. Days later, the McKellars were arrested.

By January 12 2021, Tony Parsons' remains had been found. They were located in a peat bog among animal bones. Professor Lorna Dawson, a forensic soil scientist involved in the search, recalled the moment his body was recovered, 'Everyone stood respectfully with their heads bowed and looked at Mr Parsons, like when the Queen went past in her coffin.'

The Trial And Sentencing

Despite the arrest and confessions, the path to justice was far from straightforward.

Both Alexander and Robert McKellar were initially charged with murder. However, those charges were downgraded to lesser offences shortly before trial. Prosecutors cited the absence of key witness Caroline Muirhead, who had suffered a breakdown and refused to testify after being told she would be filmed for a documentary without her consent.

In August 2023, Alexander McKellar pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He was eventually sentenced to 12 years in prison. His twin, Robert, on the other hand, admitted to helping cover up the crime and received a five-year sentence.

Meanwhile, Tony's widow, Margaret Parsons, who spoke out in the BBC documentary, said that she will never forgive the McKellar brothers. 'They took Tony, they buried him and left me, my kids and grandkids for three and a half years not knowing where he was.'

She added, 'When they get out of jail, they will get back to life as if nothing has happened... I can't do that because Tony is not here. They are not the ones left with the life sentence, I am.'