'Wrong has finally been corrected' in Jim Parsons murder case

It was a case that captivated Huron County and northern Ohio for years.Who killed Barbara Parsons?Parsons died in the bedroom of her Norwalk home in 1981 after someone struck her in the head 15 times with large, heavy object.For a dozen years the case went unsolved. Most people through it was her husband, Jim, who killed her.Although he always denied it, saying he was away from him home that day working at his auto-repair shop, all fingers pointed to Jim Parsons.Parsons' shop was right across the street from the Norwalk Reflector. We'd see him often and life continued like nothing had ever happened.For 12 years that question lingered — who killed Barbara Parsons?Then, in 1993, Huron County authorities arrested Parsons and accused him of the slaying, The murder charge was filed after authorities resubmitted evidence to state crime analysts. Authorities later linked the evidence to James Parsons.Months later, a Huron County jury found Parsons guilty in the death of his wife. He was sentenced to 15 years to life and has spent 23 years in prison.And for almost a quarter of a century, Parsons, his family and friends have claimed his innocence.Then came the big shocker. The headline in Friday's Norwalk Reflector:Parsons 'no longer convicted of murder' — 'Man to be released after serving 23 years; new trial ordered.'Parsons, who is in poor health, was scheduled to be released Monday and transferred to a nursing home. Parsons, according to his lawyer, Donald Caster, has "terminal cancer, " congestive heart failure and is in the early stages of dementia."He's been in and out of the hospice unit of the prison," Caster said. "He will need to be in a skilled nursing center upon his release."He's not a threat to the community."Visiting judge Thomas Pokorny has ordered a new trial. The state will appeal the decision and now it is in the court's hands.The state has no choice to appeal to protect its rights.This could go on for months or longer. And if the higher court agrees with Pokorny's decision, will there be a new trial?I doubt if we will ever see that happen. At this point, what would be purpose? It won't change what happened.The best thing to do do — right or wrong — is to let Parsons die in peace.And for his family, they can feel that justice was served.While Parsons' one daugher, Debra O'Donnell, refused to talk to the Reflector after the trial, their other daughter, Sherry, talked to The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer."Finally, it's over," she told the PD. "He was accused of something that he didn't do. The wrong has finally been corrected. Now, we just want to be together in the remaining time that he has."Joe Centers is Reflector managing editor. He can be reached at jcenters@norwalkreflector.com. Parsons