Update: Sixth Suspect Arrested in Connection to Death of Bay Area Pot Grower Jeffrey Settler
A sixth person has been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of marijuana grower Greg Settler in California’s Mendocino County, according to the Associated Press. This recent arrest totals six suspects who have been detained, with a seventh suspect still at large.
Sheriff’s officials say Jesse Cole Wells was taken into custody Friday in South Lake Tahoe. Investigators say the arrest came after the 33-year-old had been spotted brazenly frequenting casinos in the area.
Wells was booked into the El Dorado County Jail in Nevada on suspicion of homicide and robbery.
His bail was set at $650,000 while he awaits extradition to Mendocino County.
Wells is the sixth suspect in the beating and stabbing death of Jeffrey Settler. The seventh suspect, Gary Blank III, 34, of Garberville, CA remains at large.
The following suspects have also been arrested in connection to Settlers murder:
- Suspect Frederick Gaestel, 27, of Clifton, New Jersey, was arrested earlier this month in Virginia.
- Michael Andrew Kane, 24, of Pleasantville, N.Y., gave himself up to authorities at the Mexican border in January.
- Abdirahman Mohamed, 28, of San Diego, was arrested in December in Southern California.
- Zachary Ryan Wuester, 24, of Haskell, New Jersey, and Gary Lynn Fitzgerald, 23, of Roanoke, Illinois, surrendered separately in Mendocino County in November.
Detectives believe that seven people were hired by Settler to help him trim marijuana plants. The seven individuals, after gaining Settlers confidence, stole more than 100 pounds of pot before beating and stabbing him to death.
Correction: We mistakenly listed the name of the victim as Greg Settler. Greg Settler is the father of the victim Jeffrey Settler. We apologize for any unintentional distress this caused the family of the victim or others.
