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The home of Ernest Scherer III has been searched by investigators, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed.
Scherer III is the son of Ernie Scherer Jr. and Charlene Abendroth, whose brutally beaten bodies were found in their home on Castlewood Drive in unincorporated Pleasanton on March 14.
The son is listed on numerous Web sites as a professional poker player with career earnings that exceed $300,000. A search warrant was reportedly served on his Orange County home in Brea. Investigators inspected the house and collected evidence March 22, the day that funeral services were held for Scherer Jr., 60, and Abendroth, 57, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pleasanton.
The news follows reports that detectives have seized a vehicle. Investigators sent an e-mail to residents in the Castlewood Country Club community two weeks ago asking if anyone had seen a 2001 red Chevrolet Camaro convertible in the area around the time they believe the husband and wife were killed.
A country club worker discovered Scherer Jr.’s body after the couple’s daughter Carolyn Osterlye became concerned that she hadn’t heard from them and asked that someone check on them. The worker called authorities after he saw Scherer’s body through a window near the front of the home, which is located near the first hole of the golf course. Abendroth’s body was found in a room nearby.
Reports say that DMV records list Scherer III as owning a Camaro, but the records don’t specify the color or whether it’s a convertible.
When asked to identify the car and if it is registered to Scherer III, Lt. Kelly Miles said, “We’re not going to comment on that right now.”
“We’re continually investigating all leads,” Miles added. “We’re pretty sure it was not random, but we’re still open to investigating other leads, but we’re going a certain direction.”
Scherer Jr. was, like his son, a poker player, but his son played full-time.
Investigators have said that Scherer Jr. didn’t have any gambling debts but declined to answer when asked if the son did. Scherer Jr. invested in real estate and was a former member of the San Ramon school board, where he was recalled by voters. Abendroth was beloved by her students at Cal State East Bay, where she was a professor in accounting for more than 30 years. She was actively involved with the Pleasanton Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Sgt. Scott Dudek of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department at (510) 667-7478.
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