Hunt for Oxford University man on the run after murder in US
AN Oxford University employee was yesterday at the centre of a nationwide manhunt in America over the brutal murder of a Chicago hairstylist.
Police have described college treasurer Andrew Warren as “armed and extremely dangerous” and urged him to turn himself in over the stabbing of Trenton Cornell-Duranleau.
Warren, 56, is thought to have fled Illinois with his co-accused Wyndham Lathem, 42, an American microbiologist and expert on the Black Death, who was dating the victim.
The 26-year-old hairstylist was reportedly trying to break up the relationship.
A wanted poster has been issued for both men and the US Marshal Service has now joined the intensive search.
Shock
Warren was reported missing to UK police on July 25 – two days before the murder – after he disappeared from the council house he shares with his sister Tracey, 39, in Faringdon, 18 miles west of Oxford. He grew up in the house with his sister and father Dereck, who died in a car crash this year.
Warren, a former Stagecoach bus driver, is senior treasury assistant at Somerville College where he is in charge of payroll and pensions.
Neighbours insisted he was innocent and spoke of their shock at his alleged involvement in the crime.
An elderly couple, who asked not to be named, said Warren was a “gentle lad” who would help out his neighbours.
The elderly woman said: “Andrew’s a lovely lad. He’s always been gay. I can’t imagine him committing murder. He’s not the type. He’s a quiet lad. He helps his neighbours.”
Friends said Warren attended a boy’s grammar school after passing the eleven plus and used to accompany his mother Mabel to bingo rather than playing with other children.
On July 29, Tracey posted a picture of her, Warren and their father on Facebook.
She wrote: “Miss dad and wake up bruv. Life is too precious to waste.”
Police visited Warren’s boyfriend Martin McClure Grant yesterday. He appeared distressed and did not comment.
Somerville College principal Alice Prochaska said: “Neither the college nor the university were aware of the case, which is clearly extremely worrying.
“We and the university authorities will liaise with the investigation and provide any assistance that is required.”
Mr Cornell-Duranleau’s body was found last Thursday at a 10th-floor luxury apartment owned by Lathem. The Cook County medical examiner’s office said he had died of multiple stab wounds and ruled the death a homicide.
An email to residents in the apartment building said police were investigating “a variety of motives, including a possible domestic incident”.
A judge issued an arrest warrant for Lathem and Warren, while police issued a poster with photos of both suspects.
Anthony Guglielmi, from Chicago police, tweeted: “Our search will only intensify. Prof Lathem & Mr Warren, do the right thing & turn yourself into any police dept.”
Lathem is an associate professor of microbiology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
The college said he has been placed on administrative leave and banned from campus.
It is not clear how Warren knows either man, or if they had met prior to his US visit.