BLISSFIELD, Mich. – An Ohio man sought Tuesday on murder charges in the shootings of his ex-girlfriend and her sister in Michigan served in the Ohio National Guard and was deployed to Iraq for nearly a year, military officials said.
Thomas Fritz, 38, of Sylvania, is also charged with one count of assault with intent to commit murder in the wounding of the sisters' mother in the Friday night shooting in Blissfield, 20 miles northwest of Toledo, Ohio.
The search for Fritz is ongoing, Michigan State Police said Tuesday morning, and tips were being sought from the public. Police said they believe Fritz is driving a burgundy or maroon 2002 Honda four-door vehicle with Ohio plates.
Police said Fritz killed Lisa Gritzmaker, 24, and Amy Merrill, 33, and also wounded 52-year-old Robin Lynn McCowan. Police found the women at a home after responding to a 911 call from one of the victims.
Police said Merrill had ended her relationship with Fritz within the past three weeks.
The Blade in Toledo reported that Fritz was a specialist in the military police and deployed to Iraq in 2003 with the Ohio National Guard.
Fritz later graduated from the Owens Community College police academy and went through the college's criminal justice technology program, the report said.