Deputy Randall Creek Wanted for Murder has been Captured

A Kentucky sheriff's deputy accused of killing his ex-girlfriend was captured in Iowa early Tuesday after an officer spotted his car at a hotel.

Randall Creek, 41, of Bowling Green, Ky., was taken into custody without incident shortly after midnight at a motel in Evansdale, about 600 miles from Smiths Grove, Ky., where his ex-girlfriend, Debbie Rediess, was gunned down Sunday.

Black Hawk County sheriff's Capt. Reid Corson said they had information that Creek was in Iowa, and officers started checking motels. A police officer on routine patrol spotted Creek's car at a Days Inn and officers set up surveillance.

"He exited the hotel room unaware that they were there and they grabbed him," Corson said.

Corson said Creek had no ties to Iowa and was just "traveling through."

Kentucky authorities have said Creek confessed to the killing in an e-mail exchange Monday that was sent to a newspaper, Kentucky State Police and about 30 other recipients.

"I am not running to get away but I am going to make the KSP earn their money on this one," Creek said in the e-mail, which was posted on the Daily News of Bowling Green's Web site. "I have never been armed after the encounter and there will be no chase or struggle I assure you."

Late Monday afternoon, Creek sent another e-mail to law enforcement and media in which he threatened a county jailer.

Creek waived extradition during a court appearance Tuesday morning, Black Hawk County sheriff's Sgt. Pat Hagerty said.

Creek was represented by the public defender's office. Bond was set at $1 million.

Hagerty said Creek will return to Kentucky. He declined to say when that might happen.

More Information: http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081007/NEWS/710079940/1006/news

Deputy Randall Creek Wanted for Murder Taunts Police

A sheriff's deputy accused of killing his ex-girlfriend in Kentucky taunted state police in an e-mail exchange Monday, threatening a county jailer and telling police he was going to "make them earn their money" in their search for him.

Simpson County Sheriff's Deputy Randall Creek, 41, is wanted on a warrant for murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend, Debbie R. Rediess, 46, authorities said. Rediess was shot to death outside her home Sunday morning in Smiths Grove, 85 miles south of Louisville.

In an e-mail that was sent to a newspaper, Kentucky State Police and about 30 other recipients, Creek confesses to the killing, trooper Todd Holder said.

"I am not running to get away but I am going to make the KSP earn their money on this one," Creek said in the e-mail, which was posted on The Daily News of Bowling Green's Web site. "I have never been armed after the encounter and there will be no chase or struggle I assure you."

Authorities, however, said they think Creek is armed with at least a handgun, and they said they had evidence that he had been in the Louisville area.

Late Monday afternoon, Creek sent another e-mail to law enforcement and media in which he threatened Warren County Jailer Jackie Strode. Creek ran as a Republican in the 2002 jailer's race and was defeated by Strode, the incumbent. Creek also said in the e-mail that Strode fired him from a job at the county jail in 1999.

"If I have contact with him at his facility I assure you I will kill him with my bare hands and he knows I am capable even before this encounter happened," he said in the e-mail.

Holder said police had notified Strode, the jail and area law enforcement.


"We know he's stopping and using computers. We know he's alive," Holder said.

Hours before Rediess was shot, Creek sent an e-mail to The Daily News describing his feelings for her. It was one of several letters Creek had written to the paper in recent years, the newspaper reported.

In the letter, Creek said Rediess ended their relationship after five years because he wouldn't set a wedding date.

"I don't blame her for leaving but I guess the message I am trying to get across to couples in this area is never take for granted that your spouse or girlfriend will always be there," he wrote in the e-mail. "To my darling Debbie I love you very much and I hope that one day we will be married and live happily ever after."

State police got Creek's personal e-mail address from the suspect's brother and sent their own message asking Creek to turn himself in. Three hours and 35 minutes later, Creek responded, saying he had become jealous after seeing his ex-girlfriend with another man.

Louisville police, state troopers and U.S. marshals were searching for Creek.