AUSTINTOWN Police seek man who is charged in June killing of township woman

Police are remaining mum about the motive and circumstances of the killing.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Police here are looking for a South Main Street man accused of killing Amber Zurcher in June.
Christopher Anderson, 34, is wanted on warrants charging him with aggravated murder and attempted aggravated rape. The warrants were issued Tuesday.
Police couldn't find Anderson at his homeTuesday.
The body of Zurcher, 22, of 1031 Compass West, was found on the living room floor of her apartment by her mother about 3:30 p.m. June 6.
Police Chief Gordon Ellis said Zurcher was strangled by a ligature -- a cord, wire or rope -- during the morning of June 6. An unplugged iron was found near the body. Ellis couldn't confirm that the iron cord was the murder weapon.
Zurcher had a 3-year-old son who was staying with grandparents when the killing occurred.
Ellis wouldn't discuss the motive or the circumstances that led to the murder. He also wouldn't say why Anderson is charged with attempted rape.
No signs of struggle
Police have said there were no signs of a struggle in the apartment.
Ellis said Anderson was among the seven people who came to Zurcher's apartment between 1 and 2 a.m. June 6 after spending time at a nearby sports bar. Alcohol was served at the apartment. Police found no evidence of drugs in Zurcher's blood.
The get-together ended around 3:30 a.m, police said. Around 4 a.m., one of Zurcher's neighbors heard a scream for help in the apartment building. The neighbor didn't have a phone and didn't call police.
Police questioned each of the people who were at the apartment, including Anderson.
Ellis asked that people with information about Anderson's whereabouts call police at (330) 799-9721.
hill@vindy.com