On March 9, 2013, a joint investigation by the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office and the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of Joshua M. Mitchell. Mitchell has been arrested on the single charge of 2nd degree murder in connection with the death of Brandon Steele Parnell.
Joshua M. Mitchell, 4/7/1989, from the Denham Springs area Ì¢âÂÛÏ no permanent address
– 2nd Degree Murder (Bond: $500,000)
– Outstanding Warrant(s): Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
– 2 counts: 1 from Livingston Parish (Bond: $25,000), 1 from East Baton Rouge
He is currently in the Livingston Parish Detention Center Ì¢âÂÛÏ with a detainer hold from EBR Parish.
Detectives from both agencies conducted the joint investigation into Parnell’s death after Parnell’s body was discovered by a fisherman floating in the Blind River Canal in St. James
Parish on March 7, 2013. At the time of the discovery, Livingston Parish Detectives were in the process of conducting a missing person investigation on Parnell.
Through this investigation, it was learned that Parnell was shot once in the head at close range. His body was then dumped into the Blind River Canal off of U.S. Highway 61, just north of Gramercy, LA.
Detectives from both agencies, with the assistance of the Louisiana State Police Fusion Group, were able to take the information received and start the interviewing process on possible witnesses who were believed to have information concerning Parnell’s death.
Through the investigation, it was learned that Mitchell was upset over a prior incident he had with Parnell, which led to Parnell’s death.
It is believed that Parnell was murdered in Livingston Parish during the late evening hours of February 25, 2013, and that his body was then dumped in the Blind River Canal during the early morning hours of February 26, 2013.
At this time, this investigation is ongoing. Mitchell could possibly face more charges.
Source: Action News 17