District Attorney Neal Pinkston, saying there are new leads in the 1997 execution-style slayings of brothers Sean and Donnie Goetcheus in Brainerd, is asking for the state to provide reward money.
Mr. Pinkston wrote the state:
Dwight Tarwater
Governor’s Legal Counsel
600 Charlotte Avenue
1st Floor State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243-001
RE: REQUEST FOR REWARD MONEY
Mr. Tarwater:
Please accept this letter as a formal request of Governor Bill Haslam to make available reward money for information leading to the apprehension, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murders of Donnie and Sean Goetcheus. This written request is made in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-8-101, et al. These murders would be classified as either first degree premeditated murder or first degree felony murder robbery. Under the Tennessee Code Annotated, these crimes are a class above Class A Felonies.
Brothers, Sean and Donnie Goetcheus, were shot and killed execution style in their Brainerd home in January 1997. Sean was 25 years of age and Donnie was 19. Due to the fact almost 18 years has lapsed since the incident date, the homicides are now considered cold case homicides. Over the last two years, a renewed investigative effort and creation of the District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Unit has uncovered and developed new leads and facts surrounding the homicides. Significant progress has been achieved towards identifying the person and/or persons responsible for these murders.
I believe an offer of adequate reward money would encourage further witnesses to come forward with information that could help solve the murders. Anyone with information regarding these murders should contact the District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Unit at 423-209-7470 or at coldcases@hcdatn.org