Medical Examiner says Parchem died of gunshot wound

Cause of death changed from blunt force trauma

Barbara Parchem

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The St. Johns County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Monday that there were injuries to Barbara Parchem's remains consistent with a gunshot wound, and on Tuesday, the cause of death was changed from blunt force trauma to a gunshot.

The final autopsy is not yet complete.

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Parchem, 67, went missing April 5 when she failed to show up for work. Her body was found three weeks later in a wooded area just south of the St. Johns-Flagler County border.

Parchem's daughter, 39-year-old Lilly Ann Chavez, has been named a person of interest in the killing. She bonded out of the St. Johns County jail Sunday on unrelated weapons charges.

Deputies arrested Chavez (pictured above) on May 4 after detectives said they found nine guns in the home she shares with her boyfriend.