Arrests Warrants Obtained for Suspect 

UPDATE: East Ridge Police have obtained warrants charging Jose Antonio Cruz Ramirez with 1st Degree Murder in this case. ERPD detectives have worked tirelessly on this case since late yesterday evening. The suspect is still at large and is believed to have fled the area. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Stojnic ([email protected]).

Police also released the name of the victim; 44-year-old Belem Martinez. The woman, who was found in her own home, owned her own cleaning service, police said. 

On November 21, East Ridge Police Department was dispatched to an address in the 4000 block of Spriggs Street on an unknown trouble call.  The caller told police their was a body in the closet and he thought the boyfriend of the victim had killed her.  Officers located a deceased female inside the residence and are working the incident as a criminal homicide.

East Ridge Police investigators have determined that Antonio Cruz (Ramirez) is a person of interest in this homicide.  He is described as an Hispanic male approximately 39 years of age and is suspected of driving the victim’s gray Ram ProMaster work van bearing TN license plate BFP 8815. 

East Ridge Police asks that anyone that knows the location of Cruz or sees the victim’s van contact us at 423 622 1725.

No further information will be released at this time.  This is still an active investigation and the victim’s identity is being withheld pending notifications. 

Contributed photo _ Police are looking for this man, Antonio Cruz, as a person of interest in a Monday homicide on Spriggs Street