CRESTLINE – A 24-year-old man — suspected in the deaths of his Crestline parents — was captured Wednesday after he reportedly fled into Canada.
The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security told the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office around 5:30 p.m. that Maxwell L. Anatra had been arrested by Canadian officials after he crossed the border.
Anatra was booked into the St. Clair County, Mich., jail, while authorities work to have him brought back to Crawford County.
Anatra is charged with aggravated murder, according to online records with the Crawford County Municipal Court.
The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office said it received a 9-1-1 call on Wednesday at 10 a.m., requesting a welfare check at 722 N. Henry St. in Crestline.
The caller said a co-worker had not shown up for work and the caller believed blood had been seen at her residence. The CCSO transferred the call to Crestline police.
Crestline officers responded and requested assistance from sheriff’s deputies.
Law enforcement officers forced entry into the house and found a dead woman, Lisa R. Anatra, 61, inside the home. The body of Matthew L. Anatra, 63, was found in the detached garage.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office and the Crawford County Coroner were called to the scene of the two-story, brick home where the couple had reportedly lived for three decades.
According to the CCSO, family told investigators that Maxwell Anatra, last known to reside in Bowling Green, had been at the residence Tuesday night. They had not been able to reach him.
Information later indicated that the 24-year-old had been in Michigan earlier that morning and might be attempting to leave the country. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for murder and coordinated with Homeland Security.
Crawford County Sheriff Scott Kent said no additional information was available.