A man wanted for a brutal murder in Michigan in 1983 may be hiding in Los Angeles, dressing as a woman.
John Kelly Gentry Jr. is accused of murdering a 25-year-old Summerfield Township woman at her home in April 1983.
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The Monroe County Sheriff's Office was called to Barbara Gerber's residence on April 12, 1983, after Gerber's brother discovered the brutal murder.
Gerber was sexually assaulted, stabbed and her throat was slit. Police also believe Gentry Jr. turned on her gas stove and left a burning candle nearby in hopes it would cause an explosion.
Gerber's car had been stolen, but was later located in Toledo, Ohio.
On June 7, 1988, a nationwide arrest warrant was issued for Gentry Jr. in Gerber's murder. The warrant is still active today.
Detectives focused on Gentry Jr. as the suspect in the murder.
On April 18, 1983, Sheriff’s detectives were searching for Gentry Jr. in Toledo, Ohio.
They, along with officers from the Toledo Police Department, searched a rare coin shop owned by William Veith in Toledo, Ohio.
Upon entry into the rare coin business, and in the basement, investigators discovered the murdered body of William Veith.
Veith had been bludgeoned to death with the butt of an ax.
In addition to being a suspect in Barbara Gerber’s murder, John Gentry Jr. was identified as the suspect in the William Veith murder. Toledo police also discovered William Veith’s vehicle was stolen and later recovered in South Bend, Indiana.
The last known contact John Gentry Jr. had with friends or family was through postcards he had mailed.
Detectives believe John Gentry Jr. mailed a postcard from San Diego, California to his friend that was postmarked May 1, 1983. Detectives also believe John Gentry Jr. mailed a postcard to his father.
That postcard was mailed from Los Angeles, California and dated May 7, 1983.
He would be 63-year-old now, described as white, 5 feet 7, about 154 pounds with brown eyes and hair. He has a circular burn scar on his left elbow and "LCI" burned into his upper left arm.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jeff Smith at 734-240-7530.