A former Florida Sheriff’s Deputy has been identified as the suspect in a 1979 cold case murder, shocking the community and raising questions about trust in law enforcement.
At a Glance
- John J. Greer, a former Charlotte County Sheriff’s Deputy, named suspect in 1979 murder of Adele Easterly
- Greer also admitted to killing his wife, Jackie Greer, in August 1979
- Cold case breakthrough came after decades of investigation and new evidence
- Greer died in March 2024 at age 77, before standing trial
- Case highlights issues of accountability and trust in law enforcement
The Cold Case Breakthrough
In a stunning development, John J. Greer, a former Sheriff’s Deputy of Charlotte County, Florida, has been named as the suspect in the 1979 cold case murder of store clerk Adele Easterly. The announcement has sent shockwaves through the community, reigniting discussions about trust and accountability in law enforcement.
On November 5, 1979, Greer reported finding Adele Easterly dead in Punta Gorda, Florida. Easterly had been shot twice with a 12-gauge shotgun, and approximately $7.34 was stolen from the store where she worked. Despite various leads, including a potential affair between Easterly and a married deputy, the case went cold for decades.
A Pattern of Suspicious Deaths
The investigation into Greer’s past revealed a troubling pattern of suspicious deaths. In August 1979, just months before Easterly’s murder, Greer reported that his wife, Jackie Greer, had shot herself. At the time, no evidence proved his involvement. Additionally, in September 1980, a woman acquainted with Greer was found dead from a suspected overdose, with Greer allegedly pursuing her romantically.
“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.
These incidents, coupled with unrelated investigations, led to Greer’s resignation from the sheriff’s office in October 1980. However, it wasn’t until years later that crucial evidence came to light, connecting Greer to Easterly’s murder.
New Evidence and Admissions
In 2016, a former Sheriff’s Office Explorer came forward with damning information. She claimed Greer had sexually assaulted her and threatened her life, allegedly saying, “ask them dead b—— like Adele Easterly what happens when they say no to me.” The Explorer also reported witnessing Greer with a long gun and blood on his hand the night Easterly died.
A former Florida deputy has been identified as the suspect of a 1979 cold case murder, along with several other suspicious deaths. https://t.co/AP9VfIbp9E
— Zak Dahlheimer (@ZakDahlheimer) January 2, 2025
The breakthrough in the case came in April 2023 when Greer, bedridden in Tennessee, admitted to killing both Easterly and his wife. This confession, along with the accumulated evidence, finally provided closure to a case that had haunted the community for over four decades.
Justice Delayed, But Not Denied
Unfortunately, Greer died on March 2, 2024, at the age of 77, before he could stand trial for his crimes. While this denies the victims’ families the closure of a formal conviction, the identification of Greer as the suspect brings a measure of resolution to the long-standing mystery.
The case has prompted a renewed commitment to uncovering the truth, regardless of the implications for the agency’s past. Investigators continue to examine Greer’s potential connection to other violent crimes, though no additional victims have been identified yet.
A Community Reflects
The revelation that a former law enforcement officer was responsible for these heinous crimes has forced the community to grapple with issues of trust and accountability in policing. It serves as a stark reminder that no one is above the law and that justice, though sometimes delayed, can still be served.
As the community processes this shocking turn of events, there is hope that the resolution of this cold case will bring some measure of peace to the victims’ families and reinforce the importance of persistent detective work in solving long-standing mysteries.
