Rodney Antonio Gearing
Authorities said the footprint of Rodney Antonio Gearing were found at a bloody scene in the July 23 murder of Gary Percill McPherson.
Gearing, 48, was charged with criminal homicide in the incident at the victim's home in the 5400 block of School Street in Ooltewah.
The Sheriff's Office, which conducted the probe because the victim was the brother of recently retired City Assistant Police Chief Edwin McPherson, said the victim was last seen on Sunday, July 22, at 12:48 p.m.
The body was found by his brother, Audwin McPherson, the next night.
The brother first found a broken window at the rear of the residence. He then found the victim's body lying in a pool of blood on the living room floor.
The body was on top of several pieces of broken glass that came from a broken glass table. A shoe impression was observed on one of the pieces of glass next to the victim. Several more shoe impressions were found n laminate flooring.
Two individuals told of Gearing arriving at their residence sometime between 10 p.m. and midnight that Sunday with injuries to his left arm and ear. They said the injuries were severe enough that they needed to be bandaged. They also said Gearing was in possession of a small pistol.
Authorities said Gearing and Sherri Pontnack were brought in for questioning. Detectives noticed injuries to Gearing's left arm and left ear and reddish brown stains on his clothing.
Ms. Pontnack said she routinely purchased crack cocaine from McPherson. She said she picked Gearing up on July 22 and he had a large amount of crack. No drugs were found at the McPherson residence, though a number of individuals told police that he always had crack there.
It was found that Gearing was trying to sell the pistol he had showed the couple. Authorities said it was similar to one that was missing from the McPherson residence.
Gearing was taken into custody on Tuesday in the 8100 block of Old Cleveland Pike in Ooltewah after the TBI Lab said a shoe impression located in blood next to the victim's body belonged to him.