Gary Etter

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  www.jonesborosun.com/story.php?ID=31837 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 2/29/2008    Last Visited: 2/29/2008  

  Craighead County Sheriff's Department Investigator Gary Etter shows a sample of copper wire.
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  "We're finding that copper thefts are occurring all over the county and in surrounding areas like Greene County and the [Missouri] Bootheel," Craighead Investigator Gary Etter said."It's something you have to keep track of and requires a lot of time."
  
  A recent investigation of copper thefts has netted one arrest and could generate upwards of three others, Etter said.
  ...
  Etter appreciates efforts by area businesses such as Hummelstein Recycling in giving authorities additional help in cracking wire theft cases.
  
  "They're really good about keeping an eye open for people who come through over and over and raise an eyebrow," Etter said.
  
  A challenge for officials is that many people keep wire, including copper wire, around for legitimate purposes, such as to sell it to others.
  
  Primary targets for thieves are home builders, Etter said, because they often leave sizable amounts of it on job sites, often in clear view of passersby.
  
  "We would say it's important to secure wire in a place that it cannot be seen," Etter said.

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  www.jonesborosun.com/archived_story.php?ID=31691 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 2/21/2008    Last Visited: 2/23/2008  

  "Both officers went in and searched the room," Investigator Gary Etter said.

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  www.jonesborosun.com/archived_story.php?ID=30879 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 12/28/2007    Last Visited: 12/29/2007  

  JONESBORO â€" Toting Christmas gifts around in a vehicle, either to exchange them or just to store them until they can be unpacked, may seem convenient, but it's an open invitation for theft, according to Craighead County Sheriff's Department Investigator Gary Etter.
  
  After more than 30 years in law enforcement, the veteran officer said he has logged too many reports from crime victims who left presents clearly visible in a car's back seat or even hidden in a car's trunk.
  
  "You have to stop and think about whether someone is watching or knows to look through the vehicle windows," Etter said.
  ...
  Robinson's experience is not uncommon, Etter said, because many local residents feel a greater sense of security because of the city and county's lower crime rates by comparison with more urban centers.
  
  Assuming that people here are less likely to steal gifts from vehicles â€" or even at home â€" is a mistake, he added.
  
  "You have to be aware of your surroundings.Pay attention to who is paying attention to you.If you notice someone acting suspiciously you should take note of it," he said.
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  If you have doubts before you start a transaction, then don't do it," Etter said.
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  The key, Etter said, is to always be proactive about safeguarding financial data, especially when shopping.
  
  Keep credit and-or debit cards shielded from view, he said, urging people to put them back in a wallet or purse immediately after a transaction.
  
  At the same time Etter urged customers to destroy all receipts and prevent a paper trail that could give a would-be thief access to a great deal of vital information about them.
  
  Etter noted that untold costs plague identity theft victims each year, and the numbers continue to climb.
  
  "Just keep your eyes open and use common sense," Etter said."That's the key to it.

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  www.jonesborosun.com/archived_story.php?ID=27887 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/4/2007    Last Visited: 6/6/2007  

  Craighead County Sheriff's Department investigator Gary Etter said late Sunday that sheriff's deputies were called to 99 Craighead 960, three miles south of the Craighead-Greene County line earlier that day.
  
  "911 got a call from a person who said they saw a little girl lying in the doorway of the home," Etter said."When they approached the residence, they saw the three people inside."
  
  Etter said the three people -- a 28-year-old male and two females, ages 23 and 50 -- were found shot to death inside the house, a home with white aluminum siding and a brown roof nearly 500 feet off U.S. 49.
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  Etter added late Sunday that deputies have not been able to determine a motive for what happened, but said the shootings possibly occurred between 3:30-4 p.m. Sunday.
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  The names of the individuals in the home were not released as of late Sunday pending notification of next of kin, Etter noted.

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  www.pbcommercial.com/articles/2007/06/11/ap-state-ar/d8 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 1/1/2007    Last Visited: 6/12/2007  

  Craighead County Sheriff's Investigator Gary Etter says tips are continuing to arrive at his office.So far, no piece of evidence has linked a suspect to the case but Etter says he is deeply motivated to keep trying.He says one tip that arrived recently seems to have promise.
  
  "You always listen for those potential missing details that we know are there and want to hear someone use a word or phrase that tells us they really know something," says Etter, who is nearing retirement age.
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  I've been talking about retiring, but even if I do, I'll never give up on this one," Etter says.
  
  Authorities suspect Tusing was alive when she was thrown into the rain-swollen ditch.Her body was fully clothed and the only sign of trauma was a small bruise on the back of the head.She was found dead 12 miles from where her car was found.Her purse and cell phone were inside the car and her keys were in the ignition.
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  Etter says between 150-200 people have been questioned in the case.
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  Etter says he will continue trying to put the case to rest.
  
  "We've seen so many what-ifs.We're still very much working this case, and we won't be giving up.If I'm working another homicide and I get the call that cracks this case, I'm taking it.This is my priority," he says.
  
  Susan Tusing says her family takes comfort in knowing Etter is working hard to find the killer.

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  www.jonesborosun.com/archived_story.php?ID=27997 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/12/2007    Last Visited: 6/14/2007  

  JONESBORO -- Craighead County Sheriff's Department Investigator Gary Etter said Monday a motive that led to the June 3 deadly shooting near Goobertown was still elusive, preventing investigators from confirming what type of incident it was.
  
  "We still cannot call it a double homicide-suicide at this point," Etter said.
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  The lab sent preliminary reports on all three bodies to county law enforcement, stating Cole died from a wound "consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot," Etter said, while Moss was listed as sustaining shots to her lower left back and lip area.
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  As far as a motive is concerned, Etter said things are still in flux.
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  Etter has been assisted by Investigators Ron Richardson and Justin Rolland in handling the case.
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  Etter told The Sun last week it appeared as if Cole first shot his mother in their home, then shot Moss twice before turning the weapon on himself.
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  In addition, Etter said authorities were aware that Cole and Smith had visited the county jail at 1 p.m. that day to visit Thomas Tarver, who is also Smith's son, before heading back home after getting something to eat.
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  Etter said officials project that the shooting occurred between 3:30 and 4 p.m.
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  At that point the officers found Smith lying next to the residence's couch and Cole on the living room floor, Etter said.

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  www.jonesborosun.com/archived_story.php?ID=31837 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 2/29/2008    Last Visited: 3/1/2008  

  "We're finding that copper thefts are occurring all over the county and in surrounding areas like Greene County and the [Missouri] Bootheel," Craighead Investigator Gary Etter said."It's something you have to keep track of and requires a lot of time."
  
  A recent investigation of copper thefts has netted one arrest and could generate upwards of three others, Etter said.
  ...
  Etter appreciates efforts by area businesses such as Hummelstein Recycling in giving authorities additional help in cracking wire theft cases.
  
  "They're really good about keeping an eye open for people who come through over and over and raise an eyebrow," Etter said.
  
  A challenge for officials is that many people keep wire, including copper wire, around for legitimate purposes, such as to sell it to others.
  
  Primary targets for thieves are home builders, Etter said, because they often leave sizable amounts of it on job sites, often in clear view of passersby.
  
  "We would say it's important to secure wire in a place that it cannot be seen," Etter said.

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  www.jonesborosun.com/archived_story.php?ID=28197 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/27/2007    Last Visited: 6/28/2007  

  "The judge said he took the safety of his courtroom very seriously [in setting the bond]," Craighead County Sheriff's Department chief investigator Gary Etter said.

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  www.jonesborosun.com/archived_story.php?ID=27977 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/9/2007    Last Visited: 6/12/2007  

  Craighead County Sheriff's Department Investigator Gary Etter was assigned to the case shortly after the young woman's death and agrees with her mother about the possibility of cracking it after all these years.
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  I've been talking about retiring, but even if I do, I'll never give up on this one," Etter said.
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  Etter pointed out that between 150-200 people have been interviewed or questioned in relation to the woman's death, including Ervin, who successfully passed three polygraph tests and has since relocated.
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  Etter said none of it keeps him from remaining steadfast in bringing it to a close -- in other words, finding the killer.
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  Last year the Court-TV cable network aired an episode of its "Haunting Evidence" in which Etter was joined by others associated with the probe to discuss its specifics and background.
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  "I've had crazy ideas about who did it and what happened, but he [Etter] always listens.
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  Etter said he will continue pressing for any speck of evidence that can put the case to rest.
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  Glancing over, Etter was sure about that.
  
  "You'll handle it," he said.
  
  To report any information about the Tusing case, call Etter at 933-4551 or via e-mail him at whokilledmandy@craigheadso.org.

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  www.jonesborosun.com/archived_story.php?ID=27902 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/5/2007    Last Visited: 6/6/2007  

  Craighead County Sheriff's Department Investigator Gary Etter alluded to the scenario authorities are leaning toward in determining how and what happened.
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  No forced entry was discovered at the scene, Etter said.
  
  "It looks like the boy shot his mother, then shot the girl [his half-brother's girlfriend] in the lower back and then in the jaw-mouth area before shooting himself," said Etter, who emphasized that the probe continues with more interviews on tap to obtain as much information on the case as possible before arriving at a definitive conclusion.
  
  "Right now we can't find a motive," Etter explained.
  ...
  Etter said officials project that the shooting occurred between 3:30 and 4 p.m.
  
  Deputies were dispatched to the address after a 911 call was placed at 3:50 p.m., according to Etter.
  ...
  Etter said they were slated to be done today.
  
  Etter has been joined by fellow Investigators Ron Richardson and Justin Rolland in handling the case.
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  A .38-caliber handgun was recovered at the scene "in the vicinity" of Cole, Etter said, noting that it will undergo an Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms trace to determine ownership.
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  Etter said authorities believed four shots had been fired off in the house.
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  "One of the neighbors told us that there are gunshots in the area quite a bit because of hunting and target practice so hearing them isn't that unusual," Etter said.
  
  With the investigation surging ahead, officials are hopeful something will turn up that clears up the circumstances leading to Sunday's loss of life.
  
  "We're hoping to eventually find a motive.We have a lot of questions," Etter said.

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