Location: North Fork, Three Rivers

Incident Date: 1/18/17

Incident Time: 2100 hours

Case Number: 17-00801

Victim: Gin Lu "Tommy" Shwe

City: Three Rivers

Posted by: Media Relations

Suspect: Christopher Charles Ellebracht, 38 Year old, resident of Cupertino 

Victim: Gin Lu "Tommy" Shwe, 70 year old, resident of Cupertino      

On January 20, 2017, Violent Crimes Detectives from the Tulare County Sheriff Office, Visalia Police Department and Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office began a joint investigation into the disappearance of Tommy Shwe (70 year old) resident of Santa Clara.

Shwe was first reported missing in Santa Clara County on January 18, 2017. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office considered his disappearance suspicious and believed the victim was at risk. During the investigation, Christopher Charles Ellebracht was identified as a person of interest in Shwe’s disappearance and he was believed to be in the Tulare County area.   
 
Violent Crimes Detectives with Tulare County Sheriff's Office and the Visalia Police Department were contacted and a joint investigation was launched. The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office located Ellebracht’s vehicle abandoned on North Fork Road in Three Rivers on January 20, 2017.

Ellebracht was located by the Visalia Police Department on January 23, 2017 in the Visalia area where he was arrested on local misdemeanor charges (brandishing a weapon) and a warrant out of Santa Clara County. 
 
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office conducted a 3-day search along North Fork Road in Three Rivers near where Ellebracht’s vehicle was found. On January 25, 2017 at approximately 1130 hours, Shwe’s deceased body was found in a remote area near North Fork Road in Three Rivers.  

Detectives are requesting the public's assistance, specifically the residents of Three Rivers, for any sightings or interactions with Christopher Charles Ellebracht on January 20, 2017. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Detective Gezzer and/or Sergeant Torres with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 733-6218 or send anonymous information by sending a text or email to TCSO@tipnow.com or call (559) 725-4194.