Reward in Deatsch murder increased

May 13, 2008 09:28 am

— By Matt Milner
Ottumwa Courier

CENTERVILLE – The reward for information about a Mystic man’s death doubled on Monday after an insurance company contributed $10,000.
The announcement brings the total reward to $20,000, and comes one week after authorities announced their own reward.
Authorities and family members hope the reward will coax someone forward with information about the death of Elmer “Chuck” Deatsch. Deatsch died on April 28 after someone fired a shot through the window of his home near Mystic.
Sarah Richardson, Deatsch’s daughter, spoke on behalf of the family. She was flanked by her husband, mother and sister.
“We are here primarily to thank the people of the community for the support we have had over the past two weeks,” she said, her voice cracking. Richardson’s voice strengthened as she praised law enforcement efforts to track down whoever shot her father, then broke again when she spoke about the impact the death has had on her family.
“The other reason we are here today is to ask the person who did this to come forward,” Richardson said. “When he died that night we lost so much more than a husband and a father.”
Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company put forward the money to increase the reward. Alan Clark, assistant vice president for special investigations, said the company was able to work through local affiliates to offer the money.
Sheriff Gary Anderson said last week the reward is a means to try and give people a reason to come forward with information about the killing. He has confirmed that a single shot came through the Deatsch home’s front window, but has not said anything about where authorities believe the shooter was.
Neither authorities nor family members took questions during the brief press conference at the Appanoose County Courthouse. Within five minutes it was over.
Richardson said her family’s recovery will take much, much longer.
“We are taking this one day at a time. Our healing is made more difficult because we do not understand why this happened,” she said.

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