A 44-year-old cold case has finally been solved after decades of investigation, revealing that former Charlotte County Sheriff’s Deputy John J. Greer was responsible for the murder of 25-year-old Adele Marie Easterly in 1979. Greer, who passed away in March 2024 at age 77, admitted to the killing during a 2023 interview with Cold Case detectives in Kingsport, Tennessee, where he was bedridden in an extended care facility.
The 1979 Farm Store Homicide
On November 5, 1979, at approximately 1:40 a.m., then on-duty Deputy John Greer radioed the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) dispatch to report a homicide. Greer claimed he had discovered the lifeless body of Adele Easterly, a clerk at the Farm Store on U.S. Highway 17 and North Washington Loop Road in Punta Gorda. Law enforcement responded heavily to the scene, where Easterly was found shot twice with a 12-gauge shotgun—once in the back and once in the head. The medical examiner confirmed the cause of death as homicide, but investigators initially struggled to identify a suspect.
Suspicion arose early in the investigation regarding Greer himself. Deputies noted Greer’s strange behavior and remembered an earlier incident involving his wife’s death under questionable circumstances. However, a lack of solid evidence at the time prevented further action.
Greer’s Wife’s Death Raises Questions
Just 71 days before Easterly’s murder, on August 27, 1979, Greer reported his wife, Jackie Greer, had fatally shot herself in their Port Charlotte home. Greer was off-duty at the time. While investigators suspected foul play, the case was ruled a suicide due to insufficient evidence. Greer claimed he had been sleeping when he awoke to a gunshot and found his wife dead in their closet. Subsequent blood-splatter analysis conducted years later contradicted Greer’s account, revealing that the closet door had been open when Jackie was shot—casting doubt on the original ruling.
A Pattern of Suspicious Deaths
In September 1980, another woman linked to Greer was found dead in her car in a wooded area of Port Charlotte. The woman’s husband had reported her missing, and her body was discovered nine days later with empty pill bottles and a suicide note. The cause of death was officially undetermined due to decomposition. However, the woman’s husband told investigators that Greer had been stalking her and attempting to pursue a relationship with her. These suspicions reportedly led to an internal investigation that prompted Greer to resign from CCSO in October 1980.
Easterly’s Fears and Key Witness Testimony
In 1986, new evidence came to light when detectives interviewed a friend of Adele Easterly. The friend revealed that Easterly had been dating a married Charlotte County deputy who visited her during night shifts, often bringing a personal 12-gauge shotgun to “protect” her. Days before her death, Easterly told her friend she had ended the relationship and was afraid of the deputy, whom she identified as John Greer.
Additional witnesses came forward over the years, including a former CCSO Explorer who reported being sexually assaulted by Greer. The Explorer recounted seeing Greer return to the Sheriff’s Office shortly after Easterly’s murder, carrying what appeared to be a long gun and exhibiting signs of dishevelment. Greer allegedly told her to stay in the dispatch area before showering and returning to his patrol vehicle.
During one assault, Greer chillingly told the Explorer, “Ask them dead bitches like Adele Easterly what happens when they say no to me.”
Cold Case Breakthrough
In 2016, the CCSO Cold Case Unit, formed in 2009, publicly released details about Easterly’s murder, hinting that a law enforcement officer might be involved. This strategy encouraged witnesses to come forward, ultimately leading to interviews that confirmed Greer’s involvement.
Detectives tracked Greer’s movements over the years, discovering he had relocated to Kingsport, Tennessee, and worked in various law enforcement and aviation positions. In April 2023, Cold Case detectives interviewed Greer, who admitted to killing both Easterly and his wife. However, he did not clarify whether his wife’s death was intentional or accidental.
Closure but Continued Investigation
Greer’s admission came too late for prosecution, as his deteriorating health made him unfit to stand trial. He passed away on March 2, 2024. While the CCSO considers the Easterly and Jackie Greer cases closed, detectives are now reviewing other unsolved cases to determine if Greer was involved.
“This case shows that we will always seek the truth, even when we may not like what we find,” said Sheriff Bill Prummell. “I am angry at the scar he has left on our reputation, but I am even more upset about the people he hurt through his vile actions. My heart goes out to the victims and their loved ones.”
The investigation remains active as detectives work to uncover any additional crimes committed by Greer during his time in law enforcement and beyond.
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