Posted on 07/18/2012 6:45:01 AM PDT by madison10
After a standoff that lasted more than three hours, the Tyler County Sheriff's Office confirmed a murder suspect who was wanted in Michigan is now dead as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Thomas Jack Fritz, age 38, of Sylvania, Ohio, eluded capture over the weekend after a brutal triple homicide that prompted a nationwide manhunt.
According to authorities, the shootings occurred around 11:40 p.m. on July 13 at the Blissfield, Mich. home Fritz shared with his ex-girlfriend, Amy Lynn Merrill, age 33. Merrill and her sister Lisa Michelle Gritzmaker, age 24, who was eight months pregnant, were killed. Their mother, Robin Lynn McCowan, age 52, was hospitalized with non-fatal injuries. Police found the women at a home after responding to a 911 call from one of the victims.
Fritz moved in with Merrill last winter along with her two sons from another relationship and a toddler the couple had together. But investigators said, Fritz was apparently unhappy when Merrill broke up with him three weeks ago.
Earlier this week, Michigan State Police formally charged the suspect with two counts of open murder and one count of assault with intent to commit murder in Lenawee County. Rumors circulated, leading investigators to believe Fritz was hiding out near Cleveland, however, a break in the case ultimately lead them to West Virginia.
On Tuesday, the U. S. Marshals, West Virginia State Police and deputies from the Tyler County Sheriff's Office, along with several other departments, converged on a residence located on Cow House Road, in Tyler County. Shortly after they arrived, a shot rang out. It was later confirmed Fritz had taken his own life.
Fritz, who was reportedly a decorated veteran, served in the Ohio National Guard beginning in 1997 and later the Army Reserve. He then spent nearly a year in Iraq with the guard's military police unit from the spring of 2003 through early 2004. The following year, Fritz was indicted on one count of sexual battery, convicted by a jury a year later in April 2006 and sentenced to a year in state prison, according to the Ohio prisons agency and court records. A judge also deemed Fritz a sexually oriented offender in May 2006, and Fritz's name and photo appears on the Lucas County, Ohio, sex offender registry.
“All’s well that ends well...”
That’s a shame....
ping
(Is this the guy you mentioned on another thread?? I thought I’d ping you just in case it is.)
GRITZMAKER Lisa Michelle Lisa Michelle Gritzmaker, 24, was called to be with the Lord on Friday, 13 July 2012, after a senseless act of cowardice and violence. She was a loving wife and mother of two and was due to deliver her third child in September 2012. Lisa was a very giving person, always trying to help those around her. She loved volunteering her time and making donations to local charities. She had an infectious laugh and smile that she was always able to share with anyone. Lisa loved fishing and more of her hobbies included photography, playing mini-games on the computer and going for rides on the motorcycle. She enjoyed recreational reading and was in love with the Twilight Series of books and movies. She was an avid NASCAR fan and would sit with her father every Sunday watching the race, but would literally get in your face if anyone had anything bad to say about Jeff Gordon or Kasey Kahne. Lisa was stubborn, strong-willed, and opinionated, and you never had to wonder what she was thinking because she had no problem giving you a piece of her mind. She was one of the only voices of reason as a Michigan fan in a family full of fans from "that-school-down-south". She liked working in the flower garden and bowling, and was looking forward to getting her own bowling ball. She liked going dancing and attending hockey games with her husband, Jacob, and spent much of her time texting on her phone with her many friends. Lisa is survived by her daughters, Alyssa, 5, Autumn, 18 months, and her husband of 18 months, Jacob; her mother, Robin (David) McCowan; her father, Mark Burrow; her sister, Stephanie Burrow; her half-sister, Jessica (Burrow) (Nate) Bugbee; her grandmother, Marlene Burrow Cates, and her step-grandfather, Bill Cates. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Abbigail Michelle Gritzmaker; sister, Amy Merrill; grandfather, Herschel "Papa" Burrow, and her grandparents, Florence and Herb Linke. Lisa will be sorely missed in all our lives. Funeral services for Lisa will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at the Blissfield Baptist Church with Pastor Tom Frantz officiating. Private graveside services will be held at a later date. Visitation will be held on Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian and also on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at the Blissfield Baptist Church. Condolences may be sent to the family at andersonfuneralservices.com In lieu of flowers, monetary donations can be made for the family and children via the Blissfield Baptist Church, 717 N. Monroe St, Blissfield, MI 49228. Envelopes are also available at the Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian.
True. That is an excellently written obituary—if there is such a thing.
One of the saddest phrases is: Abbigail Michelle proceeded her in death. She was the unborn baby girl.
Too bad others had to go down because of her personal emotional cravings.
Leni
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