Politician suspected over disappearance of brother days before he was due to inherit over $1million

The Oregon politician brother of a man who went missing days before he was due to inherit over a million dollars has been named a 'strong person of interest' in the eight-year-old case.



Sheriff Bob Wolfe said he has information that connects Dale A. Pennie to the disappearance of his brother Glenn Pennie in 2004.



Glenn vanished from his rural Polk County home in October 2004 as he got ready to travel to a probate hearing in California about his dead father's $1.5 million estate, which the two brothers had been arguing over.

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Glenn Pennie, pictured, has been missing for nearly eight years, and his brother Dale is a 'strong person of interest' in the case

'We have always considered Dale a strong person of interest,' said Wolfe. 'We are continuing to get information that leads us back to Dale.'

Glenn Pennie was 56 years old when he disappeared three days before he was to travel to Oakland, California to attend a hearing regarding his father's inheritance, and Mr Wolfe believes that the money played a role in the case.



Police found Glenn's pickup truck in his driveway unlocked, with packed suitcases and documents to do with the probate hearing, and with the keys still inside.

'Person of interest': Dale Pennie, pictured, is currently running for commissioner of Coos County in Oregon

Dale Pennie has denied any involvement in his missing brothers case and says that the accusations are all part of a smear campaign to stop him from running for Coos County commissioner.



'They came down here and basically accused me of killing my brother, which I had nothing to do with,' said Dale according to WorldLink.com

'They are barking up the wrong tree. I have nothing to hide and nothing to do with it.'

Indeed, Dale Pennie has an alibi and authorities do not have concrete proof that Glenn Pennie is dead - however, foul play is suspected.



Glenn Pennie's Polk County home has been empty for eight years since his disappearance

During the initial investigation which was conducted over 52 square miles using airplanes, horses and all-terrain vehicles, no sign of a struggle was detected at Glenn's home.



Furthermore, Dale denies that he could have benefited at all financially from his brother's death.



'If they had strong reason, they would be down here arresting me,' he said.



'The police we have in Polk County and Coos County are a bunch of idiots. This is just another smear against my good name.'

The driveway of Glenn Pennie's Polk County home is eerie and quiet Glenn Pennie's car was found laden with snacks, legal documents and with the keys inside when he was found to be missing

Despite his father's inheritance standing at $1.5million, Dale Pennie said that he received $29,000 from the estate and that Glenn's daughter Christina received the rest.



And while the sheriff's office is speaking in diplomatic terms about Dale Pennie, the police and detective Burney Krauger are more forthright.



'Dale is not forthcoming,' said Mr Krauger. 'We encourage Dale to come forward if he doesn't have anything to hide.



'Innocent people cooperate with law enforcement, especially when its something involving a family member.

