John W. Parsons was born on February 11, 1971, in Chillicothe, Ohio. He grew up in a small town known for its community spirit. Chillicothe is located in Ross County and has a rich history. 

On April 21, 2005, John Parsons was involved in the murder of Chillicothe Police Officer Larry R. Cox during a robbery at a gas station. The police responded to a report of a stolen car from a restaurant. Just a short time later, an officer chased the suspect, who fled the scene. Officer Larry R. Cox, a 38-year-old off-duty Chillicothe police officer, joined the pursuit while walking between his parents’ house and his own residence. In an alleyway near Chestnut and North High Streets, Cox confronted the fleeing suspect, later identified as John Parsons. In the confrontation that followed, Parsons fatally shot Officer Police investigations quickly pointed to Parsons as the prime suspect. 

He was arrested on July 10, 2005, and charged with aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, weapons violations, tampering with evidence, and grand theft. Facing a possible death sentence, Parsons ultimately pleaded guilty and received life imprisonment without parole.

On July 29, 2006, Parsons escaped from the Ross County jail. He initially sought help from his mother, but she was arrested before they could execute a plan. He created a rope using bed sheets, newspaper, and toilet paper, and he hid it behind a brick in his cell. Parsons disguised the broken mortar around the brick with toothpaste and Jolly Ranchers, which he used to match the wall's paint. For three months after his escape, he was on the run and was featured multiple times on the television show America's Most Wanted, eventually becoming the 484th fugitive listed on the FBI Ten Most Wanted list on September 30, 2006.

Parsons was captured on October 19, 2006, without any issues. The Ross County Tactical Assault Team arrested him at a small shack near the city limits of Chillicothe. After his arrest, he was booked back into jail and later transferred to the Pickaway Correctional Institution. He returned to court and pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and other charges again. Finally, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. As of January 2020, Parsons was incarcerated at the Toledo Correctional Institution.