Algonquin man pleads not guilty to murdering mother, stepfather

A 36-year-old Algonquin man charged with killing his mother and stepfather in November and hiding their bodies pleaded not guilty to all charges Thursday, according to McHenry County court records.

Maxim Parnov, of the 400 block of La Fox River Drive, held in the McHenry County jail since Dec. 9 on a $5 million bond, is charged with six counts of first-degree murder and two counts of concealment of a homicidal death, according to court records.

On Nov. 29, Parnov “inflicted blunt force trauma” on his mother, 56-year-old Elvira Almen, and his stepfather, 64-year-old Peter M. Almen in the home they shared, causing their deaths, according to the indictment.

He is accused of storing his mother’s body in a freezer and his stepfather’s in a cabinet and loading them inside a U-Haul truck, according to the document.

Parnov then fled to Wisconsin where he was captured about a week later by Kenosha County sheriff’s deputies at a home in Salem.

The couple and Parnov had been arguing around the time of their deaths although it is not known what they were arguing about. A well-being check was made at the house when Peter M. Almen did not show up for work, authorities said.

Court records did not specifically detail how the blunt force trauma occurred, where the U-Haul was found or how police were led to the U-Haul.

Parnov, due back in court March 24, is being represented by Assistant Public Defender Angelo Mourelatos, who declined to comment.

If convicted, he faces life in prison.