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The son of a Pleasanton couple who were brutally slain at their home three months ago is a “person of interest” in the case, according to Alameda County Sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Dudek.
Dudek said detectives are interested in 29-year-old Ernie Scherer III in connection with the death of Ernie Scherer Jr., 60, and his wife, Charlene Abendroth, 57.
They were found dead inside their Castlewood Country Club home on March 14. Detectives believe the couple had been dead about a week before they were found.
Dudek said, “We’re asking anyone who is owed money by Ernie Scherer III to call us.”
Dudek said Scherer III is a professional gambler who’s known to have debts, and investigators want to determine whether his debts are small or whether they are for large sums.
Dudek said that in investigating the case, detectives “have eliminated a lot of people and all the other family members except for him.”
Scherer III has not been arrested, as he is only considered a person of interest at this point rather than a suspect.
Dudek said Ernie Scherer Jr. dabbled in playing poker for small amounts of money but made his living in real estate. In contrast, gambling was the son’s sole source of income, Dudek said.
Dudek said Ernie Scherer III isn’t the only person of interest in the case but he said “the list is getting smaller and smaller.”
Dudek said the case is being publicized on the Web site gambling911.com because he’s seeking the help of gamblers in solving the case.
The site, which is owned and operated by Costigan Media LLC, describes itself as “the most referenced Web site publisher covering the world of online gambling.”
– Bay City New Service, Jeb Bing
– Bay City New Service, Jeb Bing
Interesting conflict:
The son owes enough to do in his own parents, making it, let’s assume, a fairly large sum and a debt he feels requires serious attention, possibly to save himself from a fate not less brutal than that of his dear mother and father at the hands of the person or persons who have bested or financed him at the poker table.
How interested would such people be in seeing this guy behind bars, where his earning potential would be severely limited?
What is the official definition of “person of interest”? Is it merely someone who could have been involved but hasn’t been cleared? Or is it more serious than that? I’m guessing the latter, but don’t really know for certain.
Mike, you asked a really good question. I wonder what the experts would say about this. On one hand you would think that people wouldn’t want him behind bars because as you said, his earning power would be limited. On the other hand, if they think the son won’t pay up, they might be inclined to provide evidence that would put him behind bars for the rest of his life, or net him the death penalty.
If the son did do this what would he gain by it if there wasn’t any money in the house for him to steal? If killing them wasn’t going to net him instant cash, I don’t see why it would be worth the risk to do what he did. If he was in the process of stealing money or arguing over it and they threatened him I could see why he might do something rash with his adrenaline going. However to do something brutal makes no sense to me unless he was on drugs or was extremely spiteful. If he did do it, he is really stupid or egotistical to think he could do something so sinister and get away with it.
Referening my comments above, if someone wanted to do the son in, they could do so indirectly by providing evidence if they have it. Essentially put the guy away for life (at a minimum) without taking any risks themselves such as they would have if they would have one the job on their own.
“Person of interest” is a phrase often used by law enforcement when announcing the name of someone involved in a criminal investigation who has NOT YET been arrested or FORMALLY accused of a crime. It is often used as a euphemism for suspect.
Scott Peterson was a person of interest. That tell you anything?
Regarding the above: Umm, yeah, it says that the son is basically a bleepin’ bleepty-bleep.
The fact that this person is a “professional gambler” says something about his character. With gamblers, a lot of times the motive can be sheer desperation.
It looks like the good ol apple dosent fall far from the tree.