In August 1979, a deputy sheriff in Florida reported that his wife had shot herself to death at their residence just south of Tampa. Several months later, the same deputy, John Greer, claimed to have discovered the body of another woman, a store clerk who had also been shot and killed. However, in a recent interview with authorities, Greer confessed to being responsible for both deaths. The victims were identified by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office as Jackie Greer and Adele Easterly, aged 25.
The admission was made by John Greer to investigators in April 2023 while he was residing in a care facility in Tennessee. He passed away on March 2, 2024, at the age of 77. Sheriff Bill Prummell stated, “We will not shy away from our history, no matter how grim. This case demonstrates our commitment to uncovering the truth, even when it is difficult to face.”
Greer resigned from the sheriff’s office in October 1980 amid an internal investigation triggered by his questionable behavior with another woman, whose identity was not disclosed in the release. This woman’s husband had informed the sheriff’s office that Greer had been stalking his wife and making advances towards her. Tragically, the woman passed away on September 29, 1980, under circumstances that were labeled as a potential suicide.
The series of events began when John Greer reported his wife’s death on August 27, 1979, claiming he had heard a noise and discovered smoke coming from a closet in their home in Port Charlotte. He found his wife dead inside, as detailed in the release. Although suspicions arose regarding the incident, no concrete evidence was found to suggest anything other than suicide.
Less than three months later, Greer radioed the dispatch at 1:40 a.m. to report finding Adele Easterly’s body at a farm store in Punta Gorda. The subsequent investigation revealed that Easterly had been shot twice with a 12-gauge shotgun. An acquaintance of Easterly disclosed that she had been involved with a deputy she believed to be Greer but had grown fearful of him. The acquaintance recalled Easterly mentioning that the deputy described his wife’s death as an accidental shooting following an argument.
Decades later, a woman who had been in a youth program at the sheriff’s office came forward with allegations that Greer had sexually assaulted her multiple times and made death threats. She recounted an incident where Greer referenced Easterly, stating, “Ask them dead b—-es like Adele Easterly what happens when they say no to me.”
The release did not specify if investigators questioned Greer regarding the woman’s allegations in 2023, and the department’s spokesperson was not available for immediate comment. Detectives gathered statements from former colleagues at the sheriff’s office and individuals associated with the youth program, which supported some of the woman’s claims. Following the establishment of probable cause, Greer was
Authorities found Jackie Greer at the long-term care facility. According to the report, he was bedridden at the time and unable to engage in extended conversations, yet he seemed to grasp the inquiries and responded affirmatively when directly questioned about the shootings of Easterly and his wife. It remained unclear for the investigators whether the shooting of Jackie Greer was deliberate or accidental, as stated in the release. The sheriff’s office confirmed its commitment to further explore Greer’s background, including his employment history with other law enforcement agencies subsequent to his departure from Charlotte County, in order to ascertain any potential connections to additional criminal activities.
