A former Charlotte County Sheriff’s Deputy has been named as the suspect in a 1979 killing of a store clerk.
“I have always said that we will not hide from our past, no matter how dark. This case shows that we will always seek the truth, even when we may not like what we find,” Sheriff Bill Prummell said in a statement.
“I was to be clear that this individual does not represent the overwhelmingly great men and women who have worked for this agency over our century-plus of existence.”
On November 5 th , 1979, Deputy John J. Greer reported to dispatch he discovered a homicide.
Greer said he found Adele Marie Easterly, 25, a clerk at the Farm Store on Highway 17 and North Washington Loop Road, had been murdered.
Medical examiners discovered she had been shot twice with a 12-gauge shotgun.
During the investigation no evidence or information was developed that would establish a solid suspect.
According to CCSO, initially, many Sheriff’s Office investigators were concerned about Deputy Greer.