A former professional poker player denied killing his parents in the third day of testimony of a well-publicized trial in Oakland, Calif. Ernest Scherer III is accused of brutally murdering his parents in May 2008 by using a sword and baseball bat. Prosecutors claim Scherer III was hoping to collect a $1 million inheritance to pay off gambling debts.
Now sometimes the term "professional poker player" is used loosely by the media, but in this case it's accurate. According to the Hendon Mob, Scherer III cashed in five WSOP events and final tabled a $3,000 Limit Hold'em tournament in 2006 that was won by Bill Chen. His biggest cash came as a result of a seventh place finish in a WPT event in 2005. He won $68,970.Nieto has said that Scherer III killed his parents, Ernest Scherer Jr., 60, and Charlene Abendroth, 57, in hopes of collecting a $1 million inheritance because he had mired himself in debt through his various poker and sports betting losses.
The slayings occurred, Nieto has said, while Scherer Jr., a former San Ramon Valley school board member, was trying to collect a $616,000 loan he had given his son for his Southern California home.
The couple was found dead in their home about a week after they were killed, authorities have said. They suffered cuts from a Turkish sword that was taken from the house and blunt force trauma from a youth baseball bat.