How a Red Bull can helped solve mystery of missing cyclist

Tony Parsons was a loving father and grandfather who wanted to make a difference after surviving prostate cancer. In September 2017, he set out on a 104-mile charity cycle ride from Fort William to his home in Tillicoultry. Tony was determined to complete the challenge, but his family grew worried when he failed to contact them by Saturday night. His son Mike sent him a joking text, asking if he was still alive, not knowing it would be the last message he ever sent his father.

As the hours and days passed, concern for Tony's safety increased. Mike, a former police officer, understood that the chances of finding his father alive were getting slimmer. He tried to reassure his mother, even though he knew the reality was grim. Police began searching for Tony, tracing his route through Glencoe Village and the Bridge of Orchy Hotel, where he was last seen late on Friday night. Despite public appeals and media coverage, Tony seemed to have vanished without a trace.

The case remained unsolved for three years until Dr Caroline Muirhead, the girlfriend of Alexander McKellar, contacted the police. Alexander confessed to Caroline that he and his twin brother Robert had hit Tony with their car and buried his body in a shallow grave on a remote estate. Caroline showed remarkable courage and quick thinking by secretly dropping a can of Red Bull at the burial site as a marker. She later informed the police, who were able to locate Tony's body thanks to her actions. The McKellar brothers were arrested and eventually admitted to covering up the crime. Alexander was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Robert received five years and three months. Mike Parsons expressed deep gratitude to Caroline for helping his family find closure, saying that no sentence could ever make up for the loss of his father, but he hoped people would remember Tony for his kindness and generosity.