The manhunt for Nathan Summerfield, wanted on a murder warrant in connection with the death of Ashland mother Lynn Jackenheimer, now has the force of the federal government behind it. 

The U.S. Marshal for northern Ohio says he believes Summerfield, who reportedly told his brother of the strangulation death of Jackenheimer shortly after a returning from a North Carolina vacation with her and her children, is still in the central Ohio area. 

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott says Summerfield has "many ties to northern Ohio" and police are working together, including local authorities in Ashland County in addition to regional and federal law enforcement. The murder warrant was issued in Dare County, North Carolina; Jackenheimer's body was identified this week and investigators in the Outer Banks say she was both strangled and stabbed.

Summerfield returned from North Carolina without Jackenheimer but brought her two children home before disappearing. Police followed up on leads he was sighted in the Columbus area Tuesday, but were unable to confirm he was in the region.

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(U.S. Marshals Service - news release) The U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is looking for Nathan Summerfield, age 27. Summerfield is an Ashland resident, wanted for the murder of Lynn Jackenheimer, which took place on July 3rd in Dare County (Outer Banks), North Carolina. Summerfield is a white male, 5’11” tall, 185 lbs with brown hair and green eyes. 

The U.S. Marshal’s office in Greenville, NC received the murder warrant from the Dare County Sheriff’s Office last Monday and then contacted the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) to request assistance in the fugitive investigation for Nathan Summerfield, as it relates to Northern Ohio.

The NOVFTF has assumed the Nathan Summerfield fugitive investigation in the Ashland, Ohio area and members of the task force have been briefed by Detectives from the Ashland County Sheriff's Office and Ashland Police Department, as to their investigation into Summerfield's whereabouts thus far, and will continue to work closely with them until Summerfield is in custody. The NOVFTF is actively working this case and following up on all tips provided by the public.

Last night, Summerfield and his vehicle were reported to have been spotted in the Columbus, Ohio area and the Columbus Police Department followed up on several tips throughout the night, but Summerfield has not yet been located.  Additional tips have come in today, putting Summerfield in the Columbus area on Tuesday night. The U.S. Marshals Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) is following up on those leads and will continue to work the fugitive investigation for Summerfield as it relates to Southern Ohio.

Summerfield was last seen driving his grey in color 2009 Honda Civic 4 door with Ohio registration FMV-7540.  It is believed that he is still driving that vehicle, but it is possible that he may have removed his license plates and attached stolen plates from another vehicle.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “We are doing everything we can to locate Nathan Summerfield. He has many ties to Northern Ohio and we are working closely with the U.S. Marshals in North Carolina, the U.S. Marshals in Southern Ohio and our law enforcement partners in Ashland County to coordinate efforts and hopefully bring this fugitive to justice quickly.”