By: Richard L. Smith
After more than 27 years, law enforcement officials have made a breakthrough in the cold case murder of Tamara “Tammy” Tignor, whose tragic death in 1997 left her family and community seeking answers.
Authorities announced the arrest of Robert A. Creter, 60, of Winnipeg, Canada, in connection with the case, marking a major milestone in the pursuit of justice.
According to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, the investigation into Tignor's death began on November 4, 1997, when Bridgewater Township Police received a 911 call reporting the discovery of a woman’s body near Washington Valley Park.
The body, later identified as 23-year-old Tamara Tignor of Newark, was found on a dirt road off Gilbride Road.
An autopsy conducted by the New Jersey Regional Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Tignor’s death was a homicide.
For decades, detectives from the Bridgewater Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office worked tirelessly to solve the case.
Despite their efforts, Tignor’s murder remained unsolved—until advances in DNA technology offered new opportunities to revisit the evidence.
In January 2023, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office partnered with the New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit through the Garden State Cold Case Network and the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Grant.
Together, they identified evidence from the original investigation that could be resubmitted for DNA analysis. On April 6, 2023, a match was made in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), linking Robert Creter to the crime.
Further investigation revealed that Creter had relocated to Winnipeg, Canada, in 2002. In May 2023, Somerset County authorities filed first-degree murder charges against Creter.
Working with the U.S. Department of State and Canadian authorities, Creter was taken into custody in Winnipeg on June 27, 2024.
After months of legal proceedings, Creter was extradited to the United States on November 26, 2024.
He was escorted to New Jersey by members of the U.S. Marshals Service and processed by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit. Creter is now being held at the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.
“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.
“This success demonstrates the power of advanced technology and collaboration between local, state, and federal agencies to bring hope and closure to victims’ families.”
The resolution of this case underscores the determination of law enforcement to ensure that no victim is forgotten, and no crime is left unanswered.
For Tignor’s family, the arrest of a suspect in her murder brings a measure of justice long overdue.