WILLOUGHBY HILLS, Ohio – Police arrested a Willoughby Hills man in California after his wife was found dead in their apartment.
On Aug. 31, police were called to Jermaine and Elizabeth Tatum’s Willoughby Hills Towers apartment after the husband’s coworkers reported they hadn’t seen him. When officers arrived, they discovered the remains of 23-year-old Elizabeth in a locked bedroom. Police said she had been dead for a few days.
A warrant was issued for the arrest of Jermaine Tatum, 32, for kidnapping. Wednesday afternoon, Tatum was taken into police custody in Inglewood, Calif. after a brief struggle, according to the Willoughby Hills Police Department. He was spotted leaving a liquor store, with his 18-month-old son, who had been missing for more than a week.
Police said they suspected Tatum was in Florida and later tracked him to California. He is currently waiting extradition back to Ohio. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s office said they had not determined Elizabeth’s cause of death and were waiting the results of additional testing. Jermaine Tatum has not been charged in her death.
Before her death, Elizabeth Tatum told family members she was planning to leave her husband and return to Toledo to be with her family. In 2006, Jermaine Tatum was convicted on domestic violence charges. Elizabeth was listed as the victim.
During the search for Jermaine Tatum, police said he was considered armed and dangerous. Police said two empty gun cases were located at the couple’s apartment.
