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Jenifer M. Goertzen, 28, of Morton, was found murdered Thursday at a hotel in St. Louis.
Her ex-boyfriend, a lead suspect in her murder, was located Thursday night in Creve Coeur where he took his life, according to Morton Police Chief Craig Hilliard.
“(Goertzen) left home with her ex-boyfriend... on Oct. 15 en-route to St. Louis,” Hilliard said.
Goertzen was reported missing at 8:50 a.m. Thursday by her mother at the Morton Police station. Morton Police put Goertzen on the NCIC database. Shortly afterward the Morton Police were contacted by the St. Louis Police. The St. Louis authorities told the Morton Police they believed they had found Goertzen’s body in a hotel room bathtub.
Hilliard said Fuller was a person of interest in the case because he and his ex-girlfriend had an abusive relationship in the past.
“They had gone to St. Louis to look for housing for Jenifer because she was going to start college down there,” Hilliard said.
The pair were expected to return on Wednesday. When they did not come back, Goertzen’s mother reportedly became worried.
Hilliard said local authorities were on the lookout for Fuller’s vehicle.
“When Jenifer left, we had a vehicle description. The vehicle was reportedly seen in the parking lot of the Ragon Hotel,” Hilliard said.
Creve Coeur Police were then called at 7:11 p.m. to Room 29 of the hotel on a report of a suicidal person armed with a weapon.
At 7:47 p.m. the Central Illinois Emergency Response Team was activated, including a negotiator. Several area police departments, including East Peoria’s, were at the scene assisting the Creve Coeur Police Department and helping with traffic control.
Phone contact was lost between Fuller and a family member shortly after the CIERT team arrived. The negotiator attempted for more than three hours to make contact with Fuller to no avail.
At just before midnight, a camera was deployed into the room. Police said they saw Fuller moving between two rooms.
At 11:47 p.m. a single gunshot was heard. Shortly after midnight, the suspect was seen going into the bathroom. After he entered the bathroom, two more gunshots were heard.
Fuller was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:50 a.m. by the Tazewell County Coroner’s office. Toxicology reports are pending.
Jenifer M. Goertzen, 28, of Morton, was found murdered Thursday at a hotel in St. Louis.
Her ex-boyfriend, a lead suspect in her murder, was located Thursday night in Creve Coeur where he took his life, according to Morton Police Chief Craig Hilliard.
“(Goertzen) left home with her ex-boyfriend... on Oct. 15 en-route to St. Louis,” Hilliard said.
Goertzen was reported missing at 8:50 a.m. Thursday by her mother at the Morton Police station. Morton Police put Goertzen on the NCIC database. Shortly afterward the Morton Police were contacted by the St. Louis Police. The St. Louis authorities told the Morton Police they believed they had found Goertzen’s body in a hotel room bathtub.
Hilliard said Fuller was a person of interest in the case because he and his ex-girlfriend had an abusive relationship in the past.
“They had gone to St. Louis to look for housing for Jenifer because she was going to start college down there,” Hilliard said.
The pair were expected to return on Wednesday. When they did not come back, Goertzen’s mother reportedly became worried.
Hilliard said local authorities were on the lookout for Fuller’s vehicle.
“When Jenifer left, we had a vehicle description. The vehicle was reportedly seen in the parking lot of the Ragon Hotel,” Hilliard said.
Creve Coeur Police were then called at 7:11 p.m. to Room 29 of the hotel on a report of a suicidal person armed with a weapon.
At 7:47 p.m. the Central Illinois Emergency Response Team was activated, including a negotiator. Several area police departments, including East Peoria’s, were at the scene assisting the Creve Coeur Police Department and helping with traffic control.
Phone contact was lost between Fuller and a family member shortly after the CIERT team arrived. The negotiator attempted for more than three hours to make contact with Fuller to no avail.
At just before midnight, a camera was deployed into the room. Police said they saw Fuller moving between two rooms.
At 11:47 p.m. a single gunshot was heard. Shortly after midnight, the suspect was seen going into the bathroom. After he entered the bathroom, two more gunshots were heard.
Fuller was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:50 a.m. by the Tazewell County Coroner’s office. Toxicology reports are pending.
