Jane Kelsey Missing Person Case

Jul 01, 2010

Jun 27, 2024

Jane

Kelsey

59

27

65 inches

120 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

On August 22, 1994, 27-year-old Jane A. Kelsey was last seen in Syracuse, New York. She was a white female with brown hair and hazel eyes. At the time of her disappearance, she was approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed around 120 pounds. Jane was last seen near the Western Lights Plaza, riding on a bicycle with her boyfriend. She was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and black high-top sneakers. Jane also had on two gold rings, each with two hearts, one red and one blue. A noticeable characteristic is a scar she has above her navel. The circumstances leading up to Jane's disappearance have been a focus of the investigation. Earlier on the day she went missing, she was shopping with her family at the Western Lights Plaza. While in the K-Mart, she was approached by her former boyfriend of eight years, Ronald L. Tillinghast, who reportedly proposed to her, which she declined. Shortly after this interaction, Jane left with Tillinghast on his bicycle. He later told authorities that he dropped her off at the corner of Fayette and North Geddes Streets at 5:30 p.m. Jane has not been seen or heard from since. Her family reported her missing the following day. Initially, investigators considered the possibility that she had left on her own, as she was reportedly dealing with some emotional issues at the time. However, as time passed with no contact, the likelihood of foul play became a more significant concern, especially since she had no history of leaving without warning. The investigation into Jane's disappearance has continued over the years, though it remains unsolved. Her ex-boyfriend, Ronald Tillinghast, initially cooperated with the police but disappeared for a period before being arrested on a probation violation a month later. He claimed to have been camping near Onondaga Lake, but a search of his campsite yielded no evidence related to Jane's case. Tillinghast has a criminal record that predates Jane's disappearance and was later convicted of attempted rape in 1999. The Syracuse Police Department has maintained an open case file for Jane Kelsey, and her disappearance is classified as an endangered missing person case. The overview of this case reveals a young woman who vanished after a public encounter with an ex-boyfriend, leaving her family with unanswered questions. Despite the passage of time, the search for answers continues.

Aug 22, 1994

Syracuse

New York

Onondaga County

8760

Syracuse Police Department

Syracuse

New York

Onondaga County

13202

511 S. State Street, New York

3154425111

Local

Law Enforcement

94-135005

Syracuse Police Department

Brown

Hazel

Hazel

09/01/2026