POLICE in America say they have an 'idea' where Swindon murder suspect Andrew Warren is hiding after a manhunt was launched.

A US-wide police hunt was launched on Monday by Chicago Police Department for the 56-year-old Oxford University employee little over a week after he was reported missing.

The US force have arrest warrants out for both Mr Warren and a microbiology professor at Northwestern University in Illinois, Wyndham Lathem, 42, over the murder of a 26-year-old hairdresser.

Police suspect the pair of murdering Trenton Cornell-Duranleau, who was found with multiple stab wounds, in Mr Lathem's apartment on July 27.

As police close in on the pair's position, it has been revealed that Mr Warren and Mr Lathem made a donation to a library in the victim's name in a neighbouring state. 

Chicago Police Department chief spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said: “Shortly after the murder Mr Lathem and Mr Warren drove to the Lake Geneva library where they made a $1000 donation in the victims name.

“Detectives have been working on a timeline and retracing the pair's movements in an effort to try and understand what could have prompted the murder and where they went.”

Late last night, officers said that they had an 'idea' where Mr Warren and Mr Lathem are hiding and believe they are 'armed and dangerous'.

Mr Warren, a Somerville College employee who is in charge of payroll and pensions, was reported missing by his family to Thames Valley Police on July 25 from his home in Longcot.

A spokesman said that Mr Warren left the UK on July 24 but it is not yet known why he flew out to America.

Chicago Police Department chief spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said: “We do have an idea of their whereabouts.

"Our primary focus is to facilitate a safe surrender and we strongly encourage Professor Lathem and Mr Warren to do the right thing and turn themselves into any police department in the US or contact CPD and we will make any necessary accommodations.”

Somerville College has confirmed that Mr Warren has since been suspended from his post, which he held at the college for eight years.