Judge Declares Missing SC Couple Dead

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) - A judge has declared a South Carolina couple missing for more than a year and a half dead as family members plan a public memorial in Georgia.

‘The Island Packet’ of Hilton Head reported Tuesday that a judge declared John and Elizabeth Calvert deceased during a hearing in Georgia last month.

Authorities say the Calverts were last seen March 3rd, 2008, the day they met with an account who kept their books. Investigators think Dennis Gerwing had embezzled $2.1 million from the couple and seven other companies.

Gerwing killed himself a week later as authorities questioned him in the couple’s disappearance.

Relatives are planning a public memorial for the Calverts on November 15th at Northside United Methodist Church in Atlanta.