Julenne and David Goetcheus talk about the murder of their sons, Sean and Donny, in this file photo.Gov. Bill Haslam’s office is offering a $10,000 reward for information in the 1997 execution-style slayings of Chattanooga brothers Sean and Donny Goetcheus.
The Hamilton County District Attorney General’s Office Cold Case Unit made the announcement Thursday, saying the reward is for information leading to an arrest or conviction in the murders.
Hamilton County District Attorney General Neal Pinkston said his office made use of a state law that permits the governor to use funds to help try to solve cases.
Sean Goetcheus“Based on significant progress in the investigation, we sent the request to the governor back in December, and he just responded,” Pinkston said.
Pinkston said he couldn’t speak specifically about the progress that has been made in the case, but the release he issued Thursday said the investigation has focused on residents in Hamilton and Marion counties.
The Goetcheus brothers were shot execution-style in their Brainerd home on Jan. 9, 1997. Sean, 25, was shot once in the head, and Donny, 19, was shot twice after the bathroom door was kicked in. The killer or killers were never found.
Donny GoetcheusMike Mathis, a former homicide detective with the Chattanooga Police Department, is a criminal investigator in the cold case unit. He’s been involved with the case since the crime was reported, and said the reward was welcome news.
“Any tool that can be used to solve the case is a good thing,” Mathis said. “This is a big one. Money and media attention go a long way. We’re excited about it.”
The cold case unit was formed in October 2014. It is an effort of the district attorney’s office, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the Chattanooga Police Department. The unit works on old, unsolved homicides that haveworkable evidence.
Pinkston said more information regarding the award will be released, and there could be a news conference next week.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the District Attorney General’s Office Cold Case Unit at 423-209-7470 or coldcases@hcdatn.org.
Contact Will Healey at whealey@timesfreepress.com, or 423-757-6731.