Officials mum on autopsy of Constantine girl

By CAROL DRAEGER, Tribune Staff Writer

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Jodi Parrack Constantine cemetery

The body of 11-year-old Jodi Parrack was found in a Constantine cemetery Thursday night, Nov. 8, 2007. Police believe someone abducted the girl as she rode her bike home from a friend's house, then killed her. (Photo provided)

By Beth Boehne

CONSTANTINE — The much-awaited autopsy in the mysterious death of an 11-year-old Constantine girl has become like everything else in the unsolved homicide: a secret.

On Friday the St. Joseph County (Mich.) Medical Examiner’s office said it would not comment on an autopsy report released earlier in the week about Jodi Christine Parrack’s death.

The Grand Rapids office of forensic pathologist Dr. Stephen Cohle sent the report to the county Monday.

But Cohle’s office said comments on the report should come from St. Joseph County Medical Examiner John Robertson, who declined comment.

Investigators have not released any new information in their investigation into the Nov. 8 death of Parrack, whose body and bicycle were found in Constantine Township Cemetery by her mother, Valerie Carver.

Carver called police about 7 p.m. that evening when Jodi, a fifth-grader at Riverside Elementary, failed to return home from a friend’s house about 5:30 p.m. as scheduled.

Constantine Police Chief Mark Honeysett said Jodi was last seen about 4:45 p.m. leaving the friend’s home on East Third Street.

Jodi’s friends told police conflicting statements as to where Jodi planned to go after visiting her friends.

Some said she was going for a bike ride. Another said she was going home for supper. Another said she was riding her bike to a nearby store to buy a snack.

Honeysett said none of the leads panned out. Seemingly no one saw her after she left the friend’s home.

After calling police, Carver’s mother and friends began looking for Jodi near the Parracks’ home. They found her body about 10:30 p.m. in a nearby cemetery.

It’s unclear if Jodi was killed in the cemetery. Honeysett has said there were no signs of trauma on her body, but police ruled the death a homicide.

Meanwhile, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s office released a statement Friday seeking information from the public but disclosing little else about Jodi’s death.

Throughout their two-month investigation, Constantine police and the St. Joseph County Major Crime Task Force have received 561 tips, the prosecutor’s office said.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Holly Curtis praised detectives, but said, “In order for criminal charges to be filed, there must be probable cause that a crime was committed and probable cause that a particular person committed the crime.”

She added that there is “no doubt” that Jodi’s death was a homicide but “at this time we cannot establish that a particular individual committed this crime.”

On Friday, Honeysett said he was hopeful that Jodi’s killer will be in custody soon.

But he couldn’t say when.

“I’d love to be able to tell you an arrest is imminent. But I can’t,” he said.

Sunday, Feb 10 at 3:08 AM Lisa wrote ...

I live in Constantine,my son was Jodi's classmate and friend. Everyone is devastated over Jodi's murder,but I have to admit that I am tired of the secrets.I have 5 children and I'm terrified to even take them out in our own yard. The community has always been like an extended family..but the secrets being kept surrounding this has begun to rip us apart. You don't know who to trust,God knows you can't ask someone to sit with your kids while you run an errand.I just wish they'd tell us something.

Sunday, Feb 3 at 3:22 PM Furious Angel wrote ...

This is unbelieveable! The town isn't that big. Somebody knows something. My guess is somebody important to the city/government may be tied in somehow.........can we say cover-up?

Tuesday, Jan 22 at 8:11 AM dee wrote ...

Obviously they don't have a clue. Nothing for sure anyway. WHY don't they call in a psychic?????? Laugh if you will but alot of investigative units use them with GREAT success. It may be a GREAT town BUT answers and CLOSURE is needed.

Monday, Jan 14 at 5:04 AM Anonymous wrote ...

The handling of this has been nothing short of bizarre. The police wanted the media to not talk about it, but in telling them that, they only ended up causing them to talk about it more. All this super secret stuff, makes me think something just isn't right.

Monday, Jan 14 at 12:34 AM Amber wrote ...

Wow, Rick, if you're the same guy that's been commenting, once again, THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK. Who's to say this little girl was murdered by a relative? They don't know anything yet, and naturally they're all going to be questioned. Constantine is a good place with good people, they'll figure it out. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Sunday, Jan 13 at 7:31 AM rick wrote ...

they haven't arrested the mother/father/or a significant other to one of the parents yet? in most cases it is one of these or a friend or other relative.

Saturday, Jan 12 at 7:45 PM In God We Trust wrote ...

Why are the targeting Females???? Theres someone out there trying to get somebodys attention and you tell me this is normal this have to be a serial killer or something.Why is the world so mad if everybody just try to get alone with each other

Saturday, Jan 12 at 7:25 AM a caring citizen wrote ...

Constantine Michigan is a very small town where everyone knows your name and knows your family. The police are doing the best they can. I lived in Constnaint most of my life. If I had the chance I would do my part to help find the idiot who murdered this poor child. Constantine police are doing the best they can. My prayers and thoughts go out to her family.

Saturday, Jan 12 at 12:15 AM Brian wrote ...

What a cluster. If you don't know what you are doing hand it over to someone else. ThankGod I dont live in that county

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