On November 4, 1997, the discovery of a body on the trail near Washington Valley Parkin BridgewaterNew Jersey, launched an investigation that would take more than two decades to find a resolution. The victim was Tamara Tignor23 years old, who had disappeared days before. Although the police had followed various leads, the case was plunged into darkness for years. However, in 2023, DNA testing not only shed a new ray of hope, but led to the identification of a suspect: Robert Creter. This case shows how the advancement of forensic science can change the course of cold investigations, revealing secrets hidden for years.
In 1997 the police had received a call from a hiker reporting the presence of a body, and upon arriving at the scene, they confirmed the tragic news. Tignor had been strangledand his body was hidden in the wooded area, a few meters from the nearby roads. The police of Bridgewater and the county of Somerset They quickly began search efforts, but did not find any key clues in the first days. According to the local media, New Jersey HeraldDespite efforts, the case began to become increasingly difficult to solve, as there were no witnesses or clear evidence leading to a suspect.
The investigation, although active at first, soon came to a standstill. Los detectives They used tests ADN of the victim, but the analysis did not yield immediate results. For years, the case became one of those crimes that remain unanswered. Kathleen Tignorthe victim’s mother, says that, every year, the authorities contacted her to keep her informed of the progress, even if it was minimal.
“Every call, every year, was a reminder that justice seemed far away,” he explained in an interview with NBC News. Technological advancesHowever, they would ultimately change the course of the case. In 2023, a new analysis of DNA evidence allowed the genetic material collected at the time of discovery to be re-examined. This time, a match was achieved in the system CODESthe national criminal database.
The DNA analysis carried out in 2023 finally allowed the sample to be linked to Robert Cretera man of Canadian nationality who had been a resident of Bridgewater in the 90s. According to prosecutors New JerseyCreter had an indirect link with the victim. Tamara Tignor had worked at a local fast food store, and it is believed that Creter, who was then driving a orange truckmay have been linked in some way to that company.
This detail was confirmed after reviewing employment records and testimonies from Tignor’s acquaintances. Creter, who moved to Winnipeg, Canadain 2002, was arrested in June 2024 following an extradition request from the authorities of New Jersey. His capture represented an unexpected turn in the investigation, which would culminate with his extradition to the United States on November 26, 2024, according to authorities in the county of Somerset in a statement.
The director of the crime laboratory New Jersey, Dr. Jeffrey Garciahighlighted: “The recovered DNA, although old, was well preserved and allowed us to give us a key clue that was decisive for the progress of the case.” This reaffirms how new techniques of genetic analysis They can provide answers in cases where clues seemed lost.
The arrest of Robert Creter had a profound impact on both the family of Tamara Tignor as in the local community. Kathleen Tignorthe victim’s mother, expressed a feeling of mixed relief and sadness. In an interview with NBC Newscommented: “I can finally rest knowing that there is justice for my daughter. Although the pain will never go away, knowing that your case was not forgotten is the most important thing.”
This statement highlights the long grieving process that the family members went through, who never stopped fighting for the resolution of the case. The community of Bridgewaterwho still remembered Tamara’s disappearance, also experienced a sense of closure after so many years of uncertainty. According to the New Jersey Herald, Several neighbors said the arrest brought a renewed sense of security, and many highlighted the authorities’ continued effort to solve the case.
