Alleged OBX killer gets public defender

DARE COUNTY, N.C. (WAVY) - The man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend in Dare County and then spending the next month on the lam appeared in court Tuesday morning.

WAVY News was inside the courtroom as murder suspect Nate Summerfield, now clean-shaven, faced Judge Edgar Barnes. Barnes sent the case to the grand jury for a true bill of indictment for first-degree murder. Cameras were not allowed in court.

The Caley family from Ashland, Ohio was in court, and was outside when Summerfield was taken back to the detention center. They shouted at Summerfield as he drove by, "Justice for Lynn, Justice for Lynn."

Summerfield had turned his head while in the car to avoid making eye contact with the onlookers as well as reporters.

During the hearing, Summerfield was issued a court-appointed attorney, Andrew Womble. Summerfield says he needed a public defender because he has been unemployed for the last month.

WAVY.com spoke with Womble following the hearing. Womble says he has had two conversations with Summerfield. He says there is no plan to seek a plea bargain. Summerfield was in isolation but is now in the general population of the Dare County Detention Center, Womble said.

Womble added interviews with what he calls a remorseful Summerfield will not be allowed. It is unsure whether mental competency will be an issue in this case.

The grand jury will meet on Sept. 10.

Photos: Summerfield in Dare County court

In addition, a probable cause hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 28, which will be unnecessary if there is a grand jury indictment, which is expected.

Summerfield is accused of killing Lynn Jackenheimer by strangling and stabbing her while on vacation in the Outer Banks. Jackenheimer’s body was discovered on July 14 in Frisco, 10 days after she was last seen.

For more than a month, law enforcement officials searched for Summerfield in a nationwide manhunt. He was finally found at a motel in Medina, Ohio on Aug. 15 and extradited to Dare County on Aug.18.

Stay with WAVY.com for more on this developing story.