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Uploaded: Monday, April 20, 2009, 5:09 PM                                            
Updated: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 6:28 AM

Hearing for son accused of murder continued to May 26
Ernest Scherer III, 30, faces death penalty if convicted in deaths of parents in Castlewood home

by Janet Pelletier
Pleasanton Weekly Staff

Posted by lisa, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Apr 20, 2009 at 9:35 pm

This is so utterly horrible.

For money?

What went so horribly wrong?

Posted by Seems Familiar, a resident of another community, on Apr 21, 2009 at 3:18 am

Brings back memories of Hawkin Groenendaal. Only a few short years after leaving Pleasanton, this kid crushed William Groenendaal's skull by repeatedly striking him with an ax handle. He then bound his 59-year-old father with wire, dragged him into the shower and turned on the water before stealing his wallet and wedding ring. You can see what Hawkin is up to now via this Web Link.

Posted by amazed, a resident of another community, on Apr 21, 2009 at 7:51 am

does say he doesn't like dizzy people which explains why he hits them again and again

Posted by kolohe, a resident of another community, on Apr 21, 2009 at 10:24 am

What happened to the days when going to jail meant bread and water. I went to the link. OMGoodness, is that what our hard earned dollars going to? Something is so wrong with the system. With all the people losing their homes and seeing what a life you have in prison. You don't have to work, 3 meals a day, t.v. in yr room, yr own bathroom, exercise room, library, and now you can make money...

Heck what am I doing wrong working for a living...

Posted by a mom, a member of the Amador Valley High School community, on Apr 21, 2009 at 2:04 pm

Pure evil truly exists.

Posted by AVHS Dad, a resident of the Stoneridge Park neighborhood, on Apr 21, 2009 at 4:00 pm
AVHS Dad is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com

This guy Hawkin says he "accidentally killed my adoptive father" and that he has "forgiven himself" for his bad decisions. Yeah, pure evil exists.

Posted by Seems Familiar, a resident of another community, on Apr 21, 2009 at 5:55 pm

Trust me. Hawkin killing his father was no accident. I guess we are all supposed to believe he "accidently" crushed Bill's skull by "accidently swinging the ax handle more than once. And then he "accidently" bound him with wire and mistakenly placed him in the shower instead of taking Bill to the hospital. Oh, and let's not forget "accidently" went into the kitchen and ate ice cream before "borrowing" the family car.

Pleasanton breeds spoiled brats. These two cases are proof of that.

Posted by Marie, a resident of the Castlewood neighborhood, on Apr 21, 2009 at 8:14 pm

Skip (Ernie Jr) was raised in San Ramon, he never lived in P-town only his parents did. So don't blame us for this one!

Posted by Qwerty, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Apr 21, 2009 at 8:47 pm

If "skip" is guilty (and he probably is), he should suffer the same fate that he inflicted on his parents.

Posted by Rez Believer, a resident of another community, on Apr 21, 2009 at 11:30 pm

to my knowledge talkin with medicine people of my Native American nation and I recall in spirituality of guilt signs shown up in the home of sherers home- Skip didn't act alone. He (they) did a pretty good job clean up the mess. I been told thru spirits of home ..there were one big evidence left (overlooked) during the last investagation. the investigator must went back and found it. and that tied the connection to arrest skip. i believe so.

Posted by To Rez Believer, a resident of the Amador Estates neighborhood, on Apr 22, 2009 at 8:16 am

Rez Believer,

If you truly believe there is more evidence, you have a moral obligation to report that to the Alameda County Sheriff's office.

Posted by Jim, a resident of the Carriage Gardens neighborhood, on Apr 22, 2009 at 6:07 pm

Is he still a son when his parents are dead, and by his own hand?

Posted by unclehomerr.., a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Apr 22, 2009 at 9:03 pm

Hey, lighten up folks! The guy's an orphan...

unclehomerr..

Posted by Native, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Apr 24, 2009 at 11:38 am

Familiar, Pleasanton breeds educated children with strong values. I know. I'm one of them. I don't blame you for not recognizing that. Your lack of those values and your ignorance blind you. Good luck with that.

Posted by AVHS Dad, a resident of the Stoneridge Park neighborhood, on Apr 24, 2009 at 4:25 pm
AVHS Dad is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com

@Rez Believer: Okay, but what happened on OUR planet?

Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on May 3, 2009 at 2:46 pm

qwerty...i thought that you died of the swine flu....shucks!

are you still out-running out-of control- cars approaching cross walks...tee hee hee, tee hee hee...

Posted by Sydney, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on May 13, 2010 at 11:48 am

Hello,

Iam the sister of Hawkin Groenendaal. What he did was horrible and I will never forgive him. I am now in high school and am still suffering from what has happened but I do not think blogs about what people think are neccesssary. He was a troubled kid and had a horrible abusive life before my family adopted him. He was broken but that does not excuse what he did by any means. I want my dad back so bad:'( I need him but now he only exists in my heart and my memory.

Posted by CC, a resident of the Bridle Creek neighborhood, on Jul 19, 2012 at 11:12 pm

I love Hawkin still he went over the edge that is what drugs do! Accidents do happen I was his fiance at the time of the incident. It is crushing for family, however only forgiveness will set the burden of pain free from your hearts!