HUNTSVILLE — Huntsville police named 27-year-old Jerwoody “Jared” Moler, a parolee with an extensive criminal history, as their suspect Thursday in the slaying of 17-year-old Huntsville High School student K’Lynn Sherrie Kohr.

A warrant was issued for Moler’s arrest on Wednesday, just two days after Kohr’s body was discovered in her home in Tanglewood Mobile Home Park in Huntsville.

Police announced Wednesday that Kohr’s death was the result of stab wounds to the torso and arms, and that she was likely killed sometime between Saturday night and Monday morning, though an exact time of death has not yet been pinpointed.

Moler – who was paroled from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in June after serving time for assault on a public servant, escape and theft – was last seen on Tuesday selling lawn equipment at a Dallas-area pawn shop.

He is described as a white male, approximately five feet, 11 inches tall and weighing approximately 190 pounds. According to Lt. Jim Barnes of the HPD, surveillance video taken at the pawn shop shows a bandage on Moler’s right hand that may be connected to Kohr’s murder.

Barnes said Moler is believed to be driving a 2002 tan Ford Explorer with the Texas license plate number AS54-607. The vehicle has minor damage to the passenger side and Marine Corps and crucifix stickers on the rear window. The vehicle was reported stolen by Moler’s employer earlier this week.

Barnes would not comment on a possible motive or on the exact links between Moler and Kohr, but said that HPD investigators have developed evidence that links Moler to the scene of the crime. HPD held a press conference Wednesday to release new information on the case, including the expansion of the search for Moler.

“This is a statewide manhunt,” Barnes said, and noted that numerous other law enforcement agencies have already been contacted in connection with the case, including agencies in states Moler may be bound for, among them Colorado, Arkansas and Alabama.

Moler has what Barnes classified as an “extensive” criminal history, including previous arrests for aggravated assault and other violent crimes.

“I think it’s an absolute tragedy that a 17-year-old girl with a bright future was murdered like this,” Barnes said. “We’re working hard to solve this murder and to bring justice for this young girl.”

Gary Zackery, co-owner of Lysander Wholesale Electrical Supplies in Huntsville, where Moler was employed, said Wednesday that a string of recent problems surrounding Moler had occurred.

Zackery said in recent weeks Moler frequently asked to borrow money from his co-workers. Zackery also accused him of stealing a large amount of money from a co-workers bank account, and assaulting the same co-worker just before leaving the Huntsville area.

Upon hearing of Kohl’s murder, Zackery said he suspected Moler.

“Immediately I knew that was him,” Zackery said. “It’s got to be him.”

Zachery said he is also the director of a halfway house in the New Waverly area where Moler stayed briefly after being released from prison. Moler was kicked out of the facility after violating rules, but was allowed back in shortly before moving into his own apartment. After the incident at the halfway house, Zackery said, it seemed Moler had changed.

“He’s been good ever since then. It was like he woke up, and I was really happy that change came about,” Zackery said. “But it was all on the outside. He’s been leading a double life, and I don’t when that started, but it certainly has been for the last two weeks.”

Huntsville Chief of Police Kevin Lunsford thanked local law enforcement agencies, including the Texas Rangers, the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Walker County District Attorney’s Office and the Texas Attorney General’s Office, for their cooperation in the case.

“An investigation of this magnitude stretches our resources to their limits, and it’s impossible do every thing that needs to be done, so we want to thank them for their assistance,” Lunsford said.

Moler is considered armed and dangerous, and both Barnes and Lunsford urged anyone who comes in contact with him to contact local law enforcement immediately. Anyone with further information on the case is urged to contact Sgt. Ken Foulch at the HPD at (936) 291-5477.