Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Police Are Still Seeking Info On Hooker Murder

A brutal murder, committed Sept. 6, 1997, still has not been solved.

However, neither has it been forgotten.

Prescott Police Chief Willie Latin has issued a plea for information on the Chester Hooker murder. Hooker, on Saturday, Sept. 6, 1997, between the hours of 10 and 10:30 p.m., was brutally beaten to death. The person who bludgeoned the elderly man used a 2x4 piece of wood in committing the murder.

Latin said if anyone knows anything about this murder, and is afraid to talk to other officers, they can contact him. "We desperately need a break," he said.

While is may appear nothing is being done by law enforcement authorities to solve the Hooker case, Latin is working day and night, seeking information which will lead to the arrest of the person(s) who killed the owner of the Broadway Hotel, where the murder was done.

"We've been following every lead we get," Latin said of the case. "I believe someone knows something about it, but won't come forward."

Currently, a reward of $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Hooker's killer, by the Hooker family.

"We're working on this daily," Latin said. "The PPD needs help in this case."

Those who have been questioned already have been extremely cooperative, he said, but the information hasn't turned up a solid suspect in the murder as yet.

"I believe everyone wants this case solved," he continued. "This individual is still loose and needs to be taken off the streets. No one is safe while he's still free.

"This case hasn't been forgotten."

Latin said anyone with information who comes forward will have their identity kept confidential.

"We don't want an unsolved murder in Prescott."

When the murder occurred, he said, most people weren't in bed, and many were still out running around as it was relatively early on a Saturday night.

He urges anyone who may have been in the area at the time of the murder to come forward with anything they may have seen. Sometimes, Latin said, cases are broken from information someone thinks may be irrelevant.

THEFT OCCURS

Person or person's unknown reportedly broke into the home of David Gummerson through a carport door.

Once inside the home, compact discs, valued at $595, were stolen, as was a CD case, a wallet a state championship ring and $400 in cash.

The incident occurred between 7 p.m. and midnight on May 30, but wasn't reported to the PPD until Thursday, June 4.

BOAT MOTOR STOLEN

Carlton Hubbard had a 15horsepower Nissan boat motor stolen from his garage.

The incident occurred between May 29 and June 3.

The garage was entered through an open front door, with the motor and a gas can designed to fit the motor the only items reported taken.

The motor is described as being a 1991 model, blue and grey in color, valued at $750.

BURGLARY

Scott Marbury's Saw Shop was burglarized the weekend of May 30-31.

The front door of the business was pried open, with the cash register drawer and a .25 caliber semiautomatic handgun taken.