Man wanted for Colorado murder could be headed to McHenry County
Authorities believe a 35-year-old man wanted on charges he gunned down his ex-girlfriend in a Denver, Colo., suburb earlier this week is headed to the McHenry County area to see his family.
The McHenry County Sheriff's office Thursday afternoon said it was assisting the Wheat Ridge Police Department in the search for Tyler James Martin, who is considered armed and dangerous.
"There are reports that he may have family or friends in the county and might possibly head in this direction. Based on that, we wanted the public first to be aware and protect themselves, and second to possibly help law enforcement locate him," McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said.
A warrant has been issued for Martin, of Denver, in the Tuesday murder of Amber Kathleen Cremeens.
Wheat Ridge Police said Martin shot at Cremeens, 34, also of Denver, while she was driving. After she crashed, Martin shot into her car several times from close range, police said.
The two had a relationship for eight years that ended last summer.
Wheat Ridge Police said they never had domestic violence complaints from the couple, but after the shooting police learned Martin may have been stalking Cremeens.
Wheat Ridge Police spokeswoman Lisa Stigall said Martin has family in the McHenry County area, but could not specify which town.
"He moved here from (McHenry) with her," Stigall said this afternoon.
Court records show that he lived in Wonder Lake as recently as 2000 and has been arrested in the past for DUI, misdemeanor and felony offenses.
In the felony case, he ultimately was convicted in 1997 of unlawful restraint, unlawful use of weapon and aggravated assault.
The charges stemmed from a July 1997 incident in which he was accused of holding two people - a man and a woman - against their will while armed with a .25-caliber handgun, records show.
In 2000, a former girlfriend obtained an order of protection against him. Her petition for the order said he approached her at a Cary bar, started an argument, broke a glass, threw it at her head and then told her she was "going down in a hail of gunfire."
Martin is white, 6-feet tall and 250 pounds. He has brown eyes, brown hair and is balding.
His is believed to be driving a 1998 Mercury Mystique that is dark green with the Colorado license plate 720 SXA.
People with information about Martin should call (815) 338-2144 or their local police department.
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