Father of murdered McHenry woman sues killer's estate

The father of a former McHenry County woman murdered by an ex-boyfriend who later took his own life is suing the killer's estate for wrongful death.

Victor Freund, of McHenry, is seeking at least $50,000 in damages over the Feb. 17 death of his daughter, Amber Cremeens, in suburban Denver.

Cremeens, a onetime star athlete at McHenry High School East Campus, was shot to death by from former boyfriend Tyler Martin, who reportedly had been stalking her for months.

The suit, filed Tuesday in McHenry County Circuit Court, alleges "with conscious disregard for persons, such as (Cremeens), the defendant shot (Cremeens), causing her death."

Authorities said Cremeens, 34, formerly of McHenry, and Martin, 36, formerly of Wonder Lake, had been living outside Denver when she ended their eight-year relationship in August.

What followed, authorities said, was months of stalking culminating with the Feb. 17 shooting that began with Martin following Cremeens as she drove through Wheat Ridge, Colo.

As the former McHenry woman called her then boyfriend for help, police said, Martin used his vehicle to run hers off the road, then fatally shot her as she sat inside the car.

Martin fled Colorado and ended up in Chicago, where police cornered him three days later at a home in the 2300 block of North Kimball. Martin, police said, shot himself to death after a three-hour standoff with officers.

The lawsuit is scheduled to be heard in court for the first time Nov. 24 before Judge Maureen McIntyre.