Roger Parent Jr., age 34, was tragically killed on December 29, 1978, during an armed robbery at P&S Carryout, located on Celina Road in St. Marys Township, Ohio. The incident occurred just before midnight, around 11:50 PM, and involved Parent being shot while working at the carryout. A neighborhood customer discovered Parent's body behind the counter shortly after the shooting and immediately contacted the authorities. Parent was later pronounced dead at the Joint Township District Memorial Hospital. During the robbery, approximately $95 was taken from the cash register.
Witnesses described a suspect seen near the scene around the time of the murder as a white male, aged 35 to 40, wearing a brimmed felt hat and a light brown coat. Witnesses also reported seeing a red camper truck in the area, but the identity of the driver has never been established. The suspect has never been apprehended, and the case remains unsolved to this day.
Following the incident, numerous efforts were made to solve the case, but it remains the only unsolved murder in Auglaize County. Despite several leads and witnesses coming forward over the years, none have conclusively pointed to the perpetrator. Investigators continue to search for new leads, and DNA evidence collected at the scene has been sent for testing in hopes of shedding new light on this decades-old case. The Auglaize County Sheriff's Office remains committed to bringing closure to the Parent family and encourages anyone with information to come forward.
