The hit-and-run killing of Tony Parsons
On 29th September 2017, 63-year-old Tony Parsons set out to complete a charity bicycle ride that would involve riding through the night. What began as a promising and charitable endeavour ended in tragedy, as Tony disappeared without a trace.
What happened to him would remain a mystery until 2021, when the devastating truth came to light.
Join us here at Crime+Investigation as we dive into the hit-and-run case of Tony Parsons. We’ll look at the timeline of events and how the girlfriend of one of the perpetrators was instrumental when it came to cracking the case.
Who was Tony Parsons?
Tony Parsons was a grandfather and former submariner in the Royal Navy who lived in Tillicoultry, Scotland. In September 2017, he was 63 years old. Tony was a survivor of prostate cancer, an element of this case that makes it all the more heartbreaking.
Determined to give something back after winning his cancer battle, Tony decided to do some charity work. He had already done several fundraisers at the time of his disappearance, including hikes. His desire to continue raising funds for charity would end in tragedy for Tony and his family.
The disappearance of Tony Parsons
Tony wanted to partake in a charity bike ride, so he planned to cycle from the Scottish town of Fort William back to Tillicoultry, a distance of nearly 100 miles.
Tony took a train to Fort William and began the 100-mile cycle back to Tillcoultry on Friday, 29th September 2017. The last time he was seen before disappearing was at around 11:30pm. He was spotted at a hotel called the Bridge of Orchy drinking a cup of coffee.
Tony started heading south after his break, but tragically would not be seen again.
The hit-and-run killing of Tony Parsons
A missing persons report was filed by Tony’s family on 2nd October, 2017, but the case went cold for several years. It wasn’t until late 2020 that a break would occur due to a woman called Caroline Muirhead.
Caroline was in a relationship with a man called Alexander McKellar, who also went by the nickname Sandy. They had been together for two months, but their relationship developed quickly, and they got engaged after two months. Caroline noticed how McKellar was wary around police, and she questioned him about it. McKellar then told her the whole story.
Tony had been killed in a hit-and-run committed by McKellar and his twin brother Robert McKellar. The accident occurred on the A82, close to the Bridge of Orchy, Argyll and Bute. McKellar was under the influence of alcohol, and he hit Tony in his pickup truck.
Tony was not dead after he was hit. It took him between 20 and 30 minutes to succumb to his injuries. He could have been given medical attention, but McKellar and his brother did not stop to help. Instead, they staged a cover-up.
The brothers returned in a different car and took Tony’s body and other belongings – including his bike. They travelled to Auch Estate, where they buried him in a shallow grave.
Revealing the crime
McKellar took Caroline to where Tony’s body was buried. She dropped a Red Bull can at the location to help the police find the right spot when they arrived.
She then gathered information for the authorities for about a month before she filed a police report in December 2020. Thanks to Caroline’s actions, Tony’s body was finally found on 12th January 2021.
The charges and sentencing
Alexander and Robert McKellar were charged in December 2021, with Caroline being the prosecution's key witness. On 24th July 2023, the trial began, and a month later, Alexander McKellar was given his sentence. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while his brother was imprisoned for 5 years and 3 months due to his help in staging the cover-up.
The family of Tony Parsons sued McKellar, and in January 2025, they were awarded a six-figure settlement. No amount of money will ever bring Tony Parsons back, but at least the family now has some stability and closure for his death.
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