Officials say the man charged in the New Jersey murder case fled to Canada on separate charges

The man recently arrested in connection with the 1997 killing of a New Jersey woman has a lengthy criminal history and fled to Canada more than two decades ago to avoid prosecution, authorities said Wednesday.

The latest revelations in the case against Robert A. Creter, 60, came during his first appearance in a New Jersey court where he was charged with murder in connection with the death of Tamara “Tammy” Tignor.

In a hoarse voice, he answered only “yes” or “no” to Judge Angela Borkowski’s questions and agreed to remain in jail until trial.

Creter limped heavily, leaning on a walker. He appeared unsteady on his feet and stumbled on a carpet as he entered the courtroom. Officials did not say whether Creter had any medical concerns.

A DNA breakthrough led police to Creter 27 years after Tignor’s strangled body was found on a dirt road near a Bridgewater park, officials said.

Tignor, 23, was picked up by Creter in an orange work van in the Newark area and driven to Somerset County, authorities said.

Creter was arrested in Canada over the summer and extradited to New Jersey just before Thanksgiving. He is being held in the Morris County Jail.

Tignor’s mother watched Wednesday’s court hearing via Zoom from her home outside New Jersey, Somerset County Assistant Prosecutor Mike McLaughlin said.

Creter was born in Canada and adopted as a child by American parents. He was living in New Jersey at the time of the murder, Judge Borkowski said in his ruling that he should be jailed.

Officials confirmed he is a dual Canadian and American citizen.

Creter has 16 prior felony convictions dating back to the 1990s, including sexual assault, terroristic threats, resisting arrest, weapons charges and theft, Borkowski said.

He fled to Canada in 2000 while some of the charges against him were still pending.

Borkowski said he had no significant ties to Canada, with no fixed address or phone number.

Creter worked as a day laborer and had been homeless in Winnepeg for nine months, she said.

It remains unclear how Tignor and Creter knew each other, but officials said her death was “intentional.”

Creter will next appear in court on January 17.