Sunday, Nov. 08, 2009

Court order reveals details on how SC couple died

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- A court order declaring a South Carolina couple dead provides more details pointing to a suspect as their likely killer and dispels notions that they disappeared on their own, a newspaper reports.

The Island Packet of Hilton Head reported Sunday that the order issued Oct. 22 by a DeKalb County, Ga. probate judge came in response to a request from the heirs of John and Elizabeth Calvert: David White, Elizabeth's brother, and Nancy Calvert, John's aunt.

The case was handled in Georgia because, while the Calverts lived on a house boat moored in Harbour Town, they were permanent residents of Atlanta.

The Calverts were last seen on Hilton Head Island on March 3, 2008, heading to a late-afternoon meeting with Dennis Gerwing.

Investigators believe the three met to discuss funds that were missing from the Calverts' island businesses, collectively known as Harbour Town Holdings. Gerwing had embezzled not only from the Calverts, but also from other clients of The Club Group, where he was chief financial officer, investigators learned later. The Club Group, a property management company, handled many of the Calverts' business affairs, including employee leasing and accounting services.

Gerwing committed suicide March 11, 2008, after being identified as a suspect in the Calverts' disappearance.

The judge's order provides details not previously made public as well as amplification on aspects that have been reported. Among them:

- Investigators who searched Gerwing's home in Hilton Head Plantation found a holster for a pistol, but not the .22 caliber Beretta they know Gerwing owned. They testified that such a pistol is small, easy to conceal and might leave little or no blood trail because of its relatively small bullet.

- Before Gerwing's March 3 meeting with the Calverts, he took pains to make sure no other employees would be at The Club Group offices, investigators said. One Club Group employee sent on an errand by Gerwing told investigators she was "under the impression that he did not want her in the office during the meeting" with the Calverts.

As for the Calverts disappearing on their own, despite a reward fund exceeding $60,000, no one has offered information about their whereabouts, the order said. Nor do the Calverts fit the profile of people who go missing intentionally, it states. They haven't used their Blackberries, cell phones, credit cards or an ATM since their meeting with Gerwing.