Arrested for killing woman in New Jersey, 27 years later

⚫ A woman was found dead on a dirt road in 1997

⚫ Officials were able to submit evidence for DNA testing again in 2023

⚫ The suspect lived in Canada

A cold case in Somerset County has been solved as officials believe they have the man responsible for a 1997 murder.

The break in the case is largely due to advances in technology that gave authorities more options with the evidence they had at their disposal for more than 25 years.

Authorities held a news conference Monday to announce the arrest of 60-year-old Robert Creter of Winnipeg, Canada. Officials allege he is responsible for the death of Tammy Tignor, a Newark woman who was found dead on a dirt road in Bridgewater at age 23.

“The arrest of a suspect in this decades-old case is a testament to law enforcement’s unwavering commitment to justice, no matter how much time has passed,” said Col. Patrick Callahan, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.

Tammy’s death

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on November 4, 1997, Bridgewater police were alerted to the discovery of a deceased woman on a dirt access road near Washington Valley Park.

Authorities identified the victim as Tammy and determined the manner of death was homicide.

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According to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation into Tammy’s death continued for years.

But it wasn’t until 2023 that the authorities had concrete answers about the case. It was determined at the time that evidence collected as part of the investigation could be resubmitted for DNA testing.

Creter’s arrest

In April 2023, officials managed to generate a “highly strict match” for Creter, according to prosecutors.

Upon further investigation into Creter’s possible connection to the murder, officers learned that Creter had moved to Winnipeg in 2002.

On May 18, 2023, a first-degree murder charge was approved against Creter. In June 2024, Creter was taken into custody by Canadian authorities on his warrant out of New Jersey.

Creter was extradited to the United States on November 26th. When Creter arrived, investigators from the district attorney’s office and the New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit took him into custody.

However, the authorities are still looking for more information about the case. The District Attorney’s Office can be reached at 908-231-7100. The best contact number for the Bridgewater Township Police Department is 908-722-4111.

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