Police seek 3rd suspect in Palatine girl's death
Editor's note: This article was originally published in the Daily Herald on July 9, 1998.
Wisconsin police are banking on a composite sketch released Thursday to aid in finding a man last seen with a Northwest suburban girl murdered last year.
The sketch is of the third suspect police have identified in the 20-month-old murder investigation of Amber Gail Creek, the 14-year-old victim, formerly of Palatine and Lake Zurich.
Police said they have new information that Amber was seen in a car driven by the man on Feb. 1, 1997, after she had been at a two-day party at Motel 6 in Rolling Meadows.
They were seen near the Columbus-Maryville Center in Chicago, where the chronic runaway lived before her death.
The driver is described as being in his 30s, clean-shaven, of average height and having a medium to heavy build with brown hair and eyes. Police said they were told he was wearing a shirt and tie.
The car was described as a large, gray, newer model, four-door luxury automobile, possibly a Lincoln, said William L. McReynolds, sheriff of Racine County. It had gray leather seats and a placard on the dashboard that included the word "mayor" on a white background. According to police, the suspect said the "mayor" placard is what keeps him out of jail.
Amber's body was found Feb. 9, 1997, in a public hunting ground in western Racine County, Wis. She died of asphyxiation.
In August, police said they were focusing on two other male suspects, trying to link them with DNA and fingerprints found at the scene. On Thursday, they said there was not enough evidence to warrant an arrest.
"Regarding the initial two suspect we advised you of, DNA test results were negative on one of the suspects and we are still awaiting the results on the other party," McReynolds said. "We would like to emphasize that although the test results on suspect No. 1 were negative, neither party has been totally eliminated."
Anyone with information should call the Amber Creek Hotline at (414) 636-3842 or toll free at 1 (877) 722-4633. Investigators are offering a $2,500 reward leading to an arrest and conviction.