A man who’s been on the run since the murder of an Erie County woman last week was found dead this afternoon in a cottage in Vermilion Township.

The body of David Kromer, 56, of Margaretta Township, was found in a bedroom closet of a cottage along U.S. 6 with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Erie County Sheriff Terry Lyons. A Tarus 38 special revolver was found near the body, Lyons said.

Kromer was charged with murder and kidnapping and had fled to Pennsylvania and New York before returning to the area and being spotted Monday morning at another Vermilion Township business, according to sheriff’s Capt. Paul Sigsworth.

The body of Carla Westhofen of Huron Township was found Saturday in Fairview Township in Erie County, Pa. Authorities believe she was killed in Huron Township late Thursday or early Friday before her body was wrapped in a rug and dumped in Pennsylvania. The county coroner there ruled her murder a homicide and said she died of severe head trauma.

The manager of Firefly Beach Resort called the Sheriff’s Office about 12:40 this afternoon after spotting a car that matched the description of the one Kromer was reported to be driving in the complex’s parking lot.

The manager said Kromer had checked in Saturday evening. Lyons wouldn’t speculate on how long Kromer had been dead, saying only that the last known sighting of him was Monday morning.

Contact Rona Proudfoot at 329-7124 or rproudfoot@chroniclet.com.

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