By Steve Huff

May 31, 2006

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Houston, Texas. (Crime Library) — Melanie Diane Parker, a 21-year-old, 5'2" blue-eyed blonde, a student at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas (TX) majoring in Geology, was found dead early in the morning on May 25, 2006. Houston, TX emergency services were called to an apartment fire at 2737 Briargrove Drive in the Galleria area around 7 a.m., and there they found Ms. Parker's body on a bed in the rear of the residence.

On May 31^st, KHOU-TV in Houston reported that a preliminary investigation revealed evidence of arson; only around the bed where Parker lay was there extensive burn damage. KHOU also reported that Melanie Diane Parker had been murdered, shot, prior to the fire being set. It was likely that the fire was set to destroy evidence.

Like many other young women and men her age, Melanie Parker had an account on the hugely popular personal networking and blogging site, MySpace.com. She went by mellie0802, and her profile can be seen at www.myspace.com/mellie0802. Her profile photo reveals a fair-skinned and dimpled young woman smiling shyly for the camera. Melanie's 'Space was informative. A reader could find out that Ms. Parker worked for the Hilcorp Energy Company in Houston, and she likely used the screen name she did in part because she'd been born on August 8^th.

Melanie was apparently planning a move in 2006, as she wrote the following in her "general" interests section:

"I like pretty much anything outdoors and absolutely love the mountains. I am moving to Denver in December and I can't wait! I enjoy figure skating and try to spend as much time on the ice as possible."

She was a devoted aunt as well. Most of the photos in her online photo album were of her three nieces and a nephew.

Based on her "MySpace Groups," it appeared that Melanie Parker was a committed Christian. She was a member of groups with names like "Hardcore Christians — Living Hardcore," and "Christian College Group and Teens."

Melanie Parker posted a survey many MySpace users like to fill out to give the readers the sense that they know a little more about the page's owner. Reading the survey for Melanie, one could learn that she was left-handed, and that the goal she wanted to achieve this year was finishing school. Melanie liked chocolate better than vanilla, and she preferred cappuccinos to coffee. Ms. Parker also stated that she wanted to be a Geologist, and the country she most wanted to visit was Italy.

Perhaps that was why she, or someone using Melanie Parker's "mellie0802" screen name and a photo of her, had posted profiles on a number of online-dating sites, including one named Italianfriendfinder.com. All of the profiles were for a single woman, age 21, seeking to meet someone, often in the Houston area. Nothing that could be seen by an un-registered user of the dating sites was inappropriate. There were no come-hither stares into the camera or scantily-clad body shots. Melanie Parker seemed to fit her own description of what she looked for in other people:

"Down to earth, genuine people. I want to meet people who are goal-oriented and successful (or trying to be) and who also know how to have fun. I just moved to the Galleria area and don't know many people over here. Just looking for people to hang out with and have a good time."

Melanie's friends were only just beginning to leave messages of farewell on her profile at MySpace.com. One wrote:

"I'll miss you. even though we just recently came back in touch with each other(,) every memory we have will be cherished."

In an online guestbook published by the Houston Chronicle, other messages were being posted from the moment Melanie's death made the papers. Carol Morris, from Crosby, TX, left the following post:

"I met Melanie last year in a Geology class at San Jacinto College. She was so sweet and had a smile that could light up a room, and she was always smiling. We shared the same passion for Geology and worked together every day. I still can't believe she is gone. She will be greatly missed."

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Steve Huff can be reached via the contact form at huffcrimeblog.com

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