GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WZZM)- Grand Rapids Police are investigating a homicide in Northeast Grand Rapids.
A man's body was found in a home on Diamond Avenue Northeast, just south of Leonard Street.
Relatives say 56 year old William Parnell was staying with his stepfather, who arrived home from a few days away to find Parnell dead in the house. Family members say they were told Parnell's hands and feet were bound, and either his mouth was taped or something had been put in his mouth.
The Medical Examiner performed an autopsy Wednesday afternoon, and found that Parnell died of blunt force trauma.
About 8:30 am police cars started gathering. Neighbor Michael Mann says, "When the forensics team showed up and the lady came out with her rubber boots on and her plastic gloves on I thought we had a little something suspicious going on."
56 year old William Parnell was found dead in a house in the 1100 block of Diamond Northeast. Grand Rapids Police Captain Jeffrey Hertel says, "We got the call from the homeowner. He called 911, said that his roommate or the person that was staying with him was there and that he needed assistance. That's how it started."
Relatives say Parnell stayed with his stepfather off and on. Parnell's brother, George Taylor says the stepfather "was out of town and had just got back this morning. I guess it was a robbery, or whatever, cause he when he leaves going out of town, I guess he leaves his door locked. And when he came back, all that was kicked down. The door was kicked down."
Family members and neighbors say the two men kept to themselves. George Taylor says, "He don't go out or be around among a lot of people. He just might go to the store and get him a beer or whatever. Come back to the house."
Neighbor Garth Mann agrees, saying, "They're pretty well by themselves. Like I say, he'll go sit on the porch and we'll wave to him as we go by. But, other than that, not a whole lot of contact with him."
Police aren't saying much about the circumstances of Parnell's death. But, Parnell's sister Gloria Taylor says police told her "all they saw was some blood, they don't know if he was stabbed or shot. And that's the only information they gave us."
His family says they don't know why anyone would hurt William Parnell. Gloria Taylor says, "He was a good person. A laughing person .he joked a lot. He loved kids. He'd do anything for you. He'd walk a mile with food to give to anybody. Whoever need it."
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