PERSONAL DOCUMENTS CONVICTED FELON KENNETH EUGENE PARNELL 1946-1963

About this Item

Troubled from a young age, Kenneth Eugene Parnell, spent years of his life in and out of psychiatric institutions in his adolescence, and later in and out of the carceral system. A detailed, concise account of his life was cross-published in an article in The Associated Press and the Daily Kent Stater, Volume LIII, Number 81, 6 March 1980, This article is not present in this collection, but does provide a clearer picture of Parnell s corrupt and nefarious life. The link provided: https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=dks19800306-01.2.34&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- Letters, photographs, newspaper clippings, receipts, and official documents between the years 1946-1963, collected here, paint a picture of the life of convicted sex offender and kidnapper, Kenneth Parnell. Parnell was born in Amarillo, Texas on September 26, 1931 and died in prison on January 21, 2008, aged 76. In these papers, there are two copies of Parnell s birth certificate. The earliest documents are Kenneth s school report cards between 1946-1947. He was a B/C student. In 1949, he married Patsy Jo Darton aged 15. There are three newspaper clippings announcing the marriage of these two. In 1951, Patsy became pregnant. That same year, he was arrested for Lewd and Lascivious Conduct unto a minor. He was convicted and sentenced to four year. He escaped and was recaptured. According to a document from the Division of Adult Paroles of the State of California dated January 5, 1956, the subject, K. Parnell, was granted parole after proving good behavior while incarcerated. Serving since April 25, 1952 he was released on parole October 25, 1955. This documented a means towards an end of clerical employment with Kern County. It is said he married again, though there is no clear documentation of this. Newspaper clippings evidence the burial services of Sandra Jo Parnell, the infant daughter of Kenneth Parnell and Emma Swaffer, who passed on the same day as her birth April 20, 1958. There are five newspaper clippings of the obituary of Sandra and three announcements of death. All news clippings have yellowed with age. Documents suggest that Parnell was employed with the Kern County clerical offices and temporarily as a chauffeur in 1958. There are also checks and employment documents from his time working at a restaurant. There is a mysterious document paid to the order of AAA bookkeeping service & Parnell s services "Fictitious" also 1958. Other documents and receipts reveal repetitive visits for medical procedures in 1957. He was a subscriber to the Bakersfield Californian; an owner of Chevrolet and a Remington typewriter. There are two books of prayer: Jesus in Prayer and The Sermon on the Mount. A letter from Parnell s sibling Emma Parnell, September 15, 1960, suggests prolonged no contact with family. The beginning of the letter reads: "Dear Kenny, Mom called to let me know she had heard from you. We have kept in touch all along… Your mother was so worried." This letter was sent to Kenneth while he was staying at a hotel in Utah. There are three photographs. Two of a man, likely Kenneth himself. There is one photograph of his mother, Mary, January, 1963. Also here, is the marriage license of Kenneth s parents, Cecil Parnell and Mary Oatware, married in 1930. All is encased in a green envelope which reads "Cemetery Deed of Kenneth E. Parnell" associated with the Greenlawn mortuary of Bakersfield, California. This envelope has a button and string closure, and is torn at side seam. According to Kenneth Parnell s Wikipedia article, his brutal acts escalated as the years went on. Further convicted of armed robbery in Utah, the abduction of young child in 1972. This act continued for an arduous seven years until the victim of his abuse escaped and turned Parnell into the police. For this, Kenneth served five years. He was convicted during a sting operation in 2004, and ultimately died while incarcerated.

Seller Inventory # 1419

Bibliographic Details

• Title: PERSONAL DOCUMENTS CONVICTED FELON KENNETH EUGENE PARNELL 1946-1963
• Seller catalogs:
  • Crime