Amy Ignatowski, a 27 year old Coast Guard petty officer was found dead on Saturday, 31 May 2008 inside her apartment.
Capt. Todd Green of the Corpus Christi Police Department confirmed Micah Lee Spanutius, 21, was arrested by U.S. Marshals on a murder warrant stemming from a police investigation into the death of Amy Ignatowski
Police arrested and filed murder charges against 21 year old Micah Spanutius. He was booked into the Nueces County Jail early Wednesday morning 4 June. His bond was set at $100,000.00.
On Saturday, 31 May 2008 the body of Amy Ignatowski, was found on the floor of her apartment by a friend who takes care of Amy's dog. Police believe she was followed home from a nearby bar to her apartment where she was accosted by Spanutius. An autopsy revealed she had been strangled.
Captain Tim Wilson says they have determined that she left a nearby bar at Airline and Holly shortly after closing. She had been out with friends from the Coast Guard the night before, toasting a colleague's departure.
"Amy (the blond in picture on the left) was talking to someone in that club, We believe that person followed her home. She walked home and that person accosted her at her residence." said Captain Wilson.
He says there was no forced entry into her apartment. Investigators are still looking into whether she let her killer in to her apartment, if he forced his way in when she was opening the door, or if he took the keys away from her.
According to a police affidavit Micah Spanutius admitted to someone on Tuesday, 3 June, that he had killed a girl by putting a hand over her mouth and squeezing her tight.
Court documents say that he admitted he met Amy at a bar, that they got into an argument, and he put his hand over her mouth. He had listened to news reports concerning Amy's death.
Wednesday, 4 June 2008 he was arrested at a home on the 3600 block of Marion just off of Carroll Lane. Police report that Micah has an attorney and that he has invoked his right to remain silent. He isn't speaking to investigators.
Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) were back at Amy's apartment, the scene of her death, Wednesday night.
Authorities have been unable to determine Spanutius' motive for the murder, said Capt. Green: “He has refused to talk to investigators.”
Ignatowski, a 1998 graduate of Sault High, had clearly touched many lives. Her MySpace page has become a focal point for grieving friends to share via the Internet.
“My heart hurts in a way I never thought it could,” wrote Michelle.
“Rest in peace beautiful Amy,” added Stephanie.
“I plan to wear a little pink everyday in honor of our sunshine girl,” added Leigh, making reference to Amy's favorite color.
There were many more tributes from former college roommates, fellow members of the U.S. Coast Guard and others she had met along the way in her 27 years.
The daughter of Paul and Robin Ignatowski, Amy will be brought back to Sault Ste. Marie for burial. Visitation is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the C.S. Mulder Funeral Home. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral.
Spanutius remained lodged in the Nueces County Jail on suspicion of murder, unable to post the $100,000 bond.
By all accounts, Amy Ignatowski, originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan was a beautiful vibrant woman. Coast Guard LT(jg) Ben Sparacin said that the Coast Guard has brought in Peer Assistance Counseling for those who worked with Amy Ignatowski and are grieving over her daeth. Amy was a petty officer 3rd class assigned as an Aviation Maintanence Technitian repairing helicopters at Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi.
Her friends, family and those who knew her described her as a ball of energy, hence the smiling.
"There wasn't a day she wasn't smiling, happy and thinking of the next adventure in her life to undertake," said Lindsay Weber, a friend and former roommate. "Even when things weren't great in her life or she was having a bad day, she didn't let on."
Her favorite color was pink, and even as an adult she loved "The Powerpuff Girls" cartoon program. Snowboarding was a passion, she loved going to the beach and her dog Subaru.
"She was a force of nature," said friend and roommate Katie Kopelman, who met Ignatowski when both attended Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. "There are just so many people whose lives will never be the same now. ... She touched everybody that she met. If she met somebody one time they instantly fell in love with her."
She was as gentle as a lamb. She is silent now. If he killed her, he silenced a lamb.
Amy left college without graduating, eventually moving to Chicago in 2004. She joined the Coast Guard a year later, perhaps in a search for direction, Kopelman said.
She was stationed in Seattle and the Outer Banks in North Carolina before being transferred to Texas about a year ago. She became an aviation mechanic technician and loved it, her friends said, gushing to them how much fun she was having in the Coast Guard.
"She was just absolutely the brightest star I could think of," said her mother, Robin Ignatowski.
2 comments:
I am terribly saddened by this horrific crime. I am from Sault Ste Marie and a spouse of a Coastguard member and I truly hope that this evil man will be punished and that Amy's family can find peace.
I watched this young lady blossom. I am not her mother or aunt or grandmother - however I am very close to all of the fantastic women who hold the respective titles. My children thought of her as a sister and I was a friend. I am trying (unsuccessfully) to respect - "innocent until proven guilty" - God Bless Amy! God bless her Family and God willing - Justice be done!
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