A nationwide search for a man accused of killing an Ashland mother in North Carolina extended to Columbus.
Columbus police have been following tips about sightings of Nate Summerfield, who is accused of strangling and stabbing Lynn Jackenheimer. The woman’s body was found last week in Dare County, N.C.
Dare County officials said on Tuesday that a nationwide search began for Summerfield. Officials said that the man’s information was entered into the FBI’s national crime database, and Summerfield is listed as a nationally wanted person.
The U.S. Marshals’ Violent Fugitive Task Force also was joining the search. Marshals were offering a reward for information that leads to the arrest of Summerfield.
Police responded to a report of a Summerfield sighting in east Columbus Tuesday night. Summerfield was believed to be in a dark gray Honda Civic with Ohio license No. FMV-7540.
A witness said that she was going to get her mail when she saw someone matching Summerfield’s description. She said that the license plate number matched the one she saw online, and she decided to call police.
Columbus police said that they would not confirm the alleged sightings but said that was not stopping citizens for searching for the wanted man.
Tiffany and Bill Caley of Loudonville said that they could not sit at home and do nothing, so they printed a banner with Summerfield’s wanted poster and tied it to their pick-up truck and drove to Columbus to hand out flyers.
Evelyn Schoor, a childhood friend of Jackenheimer, said that she made 48 donation jars that she planned to put at as many businesses as she could in Columbus and Ashland.
“I had to do something,” Schoor said. “Sitting on my hands waiting is not something I do well. It’s heartbreaking, and I miss Lynn.”
Schoor said that she hoped Summerfield would turn himself in.
“I would plead him to turn himself in,” Schoor said. “He’s got to think his son is going to live the rest of his life thinking he is going to get him.”
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Previous Stories:
July 14, 2012: Body Found In NC Near Where Ohio Woman Disappeared
July 10, 2012: Investigators Find Missing Ashland Mother’s Cell Phone
July 9, 2012: Mother Never Returns After Family Vacation
