NC Sheriff: Mom was strangled, stabbed

MANTEO, N.C. (WAVY) - A North Carolina medical examiner has ruled that Lynn Jackenheimer, 33, died from strangulation and stab wounds.

Jackenheimer's body was found in Frisco, NC Saturday and officials identified the body Monday afternoon.

According to the Dare County Sheriff's Office, her ex-boyfriend, Nate Summerfield is wanted in connection with her death. Warrants have been obtained on a first degree murder charge.

"The warrant for Nathan Summerfield has been entered into NCIC, the national crime database, and he is listed nationally as a wanted person for this charge. The US Marshals Office, Eastern District of North Carolina, has been notified and they are assisting the US Marshals Office in Ohio and the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office in locating Nathan Summerfield,” said Sheriff J.D. "Doug" Doughtie during a Tuesday afternoon news conference.

Watch the full news conference here.

View Summerfield's arrest warrant here.

Jackenfield was last seen on July 3 in the Salvo area of North Carolina, where she was vacationing with her two children and Summerfield. Doughtie also confirmed Summerfield dropped off a key to the cottage where they were staying some time between 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 5 and 8:30 a.m. Friday, July 6.

Doughtie said he could neither confirm nor deny that the plastic bag in which Jackenheimer's body was found July 14 was similar to the kind provided by the rental company which owns the cottage where Summerfield and Jackenheimer and her children were staying.

Jackenheimer's family gathered July 16 close to the area where her body was found the day before.

"I just think Lynn wanted my mom to be here," Jackenheimer's sister Tasha Holland said. "I don't think she wanted me or any of us for that matter to find her. She wanted to wait for my mom, I really believe that. We asked for two things: one, a miracle, or two, to bring her home, and we got to bring her home."

A man discovered her body in a marshy area surrounding a cul-de-sac off Highway 12 on July 14. WAVY.com obtained his 911 call. On it, the caller told the dispatcher, "I think I may have found possibly a body in a trash bag." He went on to describe the body as a woman, wearing a Hooters shirt.  WAVY News 10's Anne McNamara spoke with the family of Lynn Jackenheimer, who said Lynn collected Hooters shirts.

He mentioned a missing woman from Ohio and went on to describe the scene, stating he could smell something.

Nate Summerfield's brother called 911 the Sunday after she disappeared and told the dispatcher, "My brother was in North Carolina with his ex-girlfriend and he came back and he said he strangled her. He dropped his kid off and left." Summerfield is considered a person of interest in this case.

Summerfield was last seen driving his gray or silver 2009 Honda Civic. Authorities say the license plate reads " FMV 7540." The lead detective from the Ashland County Sheriff's Office tells WAVY.com so far a nationwide search has been unsuccessful in finding his car.

Summerfield's location is still unknown.