12-02-2024 6:35pm

Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Announces Arrest of Decades Old Murder

Donnella Tilery Editor

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman, Jr. and Bridgewater Township Chief of Police John B. Mitzak announced the arrest of Robert A. Creter age 60 of Winnipeg, Canada for the murder of Tamara Tignor in 1997.

Prosecutor McDonald stated that on Tuesday, November 4, 1997, at approximately 4:38 p.m., Bridgewater Township Police received a 9-1-1 call reporting the discovery of the body of a deceased female by a Bridgewater resident. The deceased body was located on a dirt access road that ended in a cul-de-sac off Gilbride Road near Washington Valley Park. Detectives from the Bridgewater Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Investigation Unit responded to investigate. The victim was subsequently identified as Tamara “Tammy” Tignor, age 23, of Newark, New Jersey. An autopsy was conducted by the New Jersey Regional Medical Examiner’s Office. The manner of death was determined to be homicide.

Over the years, the investigation into Tamara Tignor’s death was continued by detectives from the Bridgewater Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Cold Case Unit and Major Crimes Unit but remained unsolved.

In January of 2023, detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit met with detectives from the New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit as part of their Garden State Cold Case Network and Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Grant to discuss the furtherance of this investigation. It was determined that evidence collected in the investigation could be resubmitted for DNA testing, which may not have been possible in years past. As a result, on April 6, 2023, during a search of CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), members of the New Jersey State Police Laboratory’s Office of Forensic Science were able to generate a high stringency match for Robert A. Creter based on the resubmitted evidence in this investigation.

Further investigation into Robert Creter and the circumstances surrounding the death of Tamara Tignor was conducted by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit. During the investigation, it was determined that Robert Creter had relocated to Winnipeg, Canada in 2002.

On May 18, 2023, charges of 1st degree Murder for the death of Tamara Tignor were authorized for Robert A. Creter. The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office worked with the U.S. Department of State to adhere to the legal process of serving Robert Creter with his criminal complaint in Canada. On Thursday, June 27, 2024, Robert Creter was taken into custody by Canadian authorities based on his New Jersey arrest warrant for murder.

On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, Robert Creter was extradited to the United States from Canada by members of the United States Marshals Service. Upon his arrival in New Jersey, detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit took custody of Creter, transporting him to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office for processing. Robert Creter was subsequently transported to the Somerset County Jail where he was lodged pending a detention hearing on this matter.

“The arrest of a suspect in this decades-old case is a testament to the unwavering dedication of law enforcement to seek justice, no matter how much time has passed,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “The Garden State Cold Case Network and the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Grant have been invaluable tools in revisiting unsolved cases, utilizing advanced technology and investigative techniques to bring new hope to victims’ families. This achievement highlights the power of collaboration among local, state, and federal partners to bring closure to those who have waited far too long for answers.”

Prosecutor McDonald would like to thank members of the New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit, the New Jersey State Police Laboratory Office of Forensic Science, the United States Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force – Newark Division and members of the Department of State for their assistance with this investigation.

Prosecutor McDonald would especially like to thank the detectives from the Bridgewater Police Department, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and members of the New Jersey Regional Medical Examiner’s Office who diligently investigated the death of Tamara Tignor in 1997 conducting a thorough investigation that ultimately led to an arrest in this case and justice for Tamara Tignor twenty-seven years later.

Prosecutor McDonald, Chief Roman and Chief Mitzak request anyone with information relating to the homicide to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office at (908) 231-7100 or the Bridgewater Township Police Department at (908) 722-4111 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

NOTE: The charges are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.