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Josephine Chatraw Missing Person Case

Last seen in Syracuse, New York on Jul 29, 1984

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Victim Details

Jul 1, 2010

Mar 12, 2024

Josephine

Chatraw

78

36

63 inches

125 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

Jul 29, 1984

Syracuse

New York

Onondaga County

8757

Syracuse Police Department

Syracuse

New York

Onondaga County

13202

511 S. State Street, New York

3154425111

Local

Law Enforcement

84-88980

Syracuse Police Department

Brown

Brown

Brown

Oct 5, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP7593) and 8 other sources
Josephine Chatraw, a 36-year-old mother of five, was last seen on July 29, 1984, in Syracuse, New York. On the night of her disappearance, she spoke to her sister from her home on Seymour Street, expressing distress over a disagreement with her boyfriend, Philip Whaley. This was the last known contact anyone had with her, and she was reported missing on August 3, 1984.

Chatraw had a tumultuous relationship with Whaley, and on the night she vanished, a neighbor reported seeing Whaley physically assaulting her and dragging her back into his apartment. Whaley later claimed that after an argument, Chatraw left on her own, and he saw her walking alone on Seymour Street. However, she was never seen again.

In the years following her disappearance, Whaley became the prime suspect. He had been arrested weeks earlier for unlawfully imprisoning and assaulting Chatraw. In 1996, Whaley was convicted of her murder, despite her body never being found. Whaley was also convicted for the murder of another woman, Margaret Reiley, who disappeared in 1992. Though Whaley later confessed to causing Chatraw's death, efforts to locate her remains were unsuccessful.

This case remains one of the significant cold cases in Syracuse, with Chatraw's body yet to be recovered, though foul play is suspected. Whaley continues to serve a life sentence for both murders.
Last Seen: Jul 29, 1984

Links to Additional Sources (8)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Police in Amboy look for bodies of murdered women - Syracuse.com">Police in Amboy look for bodies of murdered women - Syracuse.com
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP7593 - Office of Justice Programs
  • Josephine Carroll Chatraw - The Charley Project
  • 2448DFNY - Josephine Carroll Chatraw - Doe Network
  • After 18 years, police searching for victims' bodies in Oswego County
  • 4 girls missing 1979-1985 - Porchlight International for the ... - Tapatalk
  • Margaret Reiley - The Charley Project
  • Police searching for remains of Philip Whaley murder victims

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (4)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    76%Possible
    Jane Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP6953
    Jane Doe — Bronx, New York
    UP6953 • Found Jul 7, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 36 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 57%192 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 5 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2" vs 5'3"
    Weight 100%115 lb vs 125 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    75%Possible
    Jane Doe — Hackensack, New Jersey
    UP1617 • Found Jul 19, 1992
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 36 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 58%184 mi away
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2" vs 5'3"
    Weight 100%137 lb vs 125 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    75%Possible
    Jane Doe — Woodstock, New York
    UP10014 • Found Dec 31, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 36 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 70%124 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 7 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2" vs 5'3"
    Weight 80%150 lb vs 125 lb
    75%Possible
    Jane Doe — Sodus, New York
    UP162450 • Found Oct 16, 2025
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–40 vs 36 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 90%48 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 41 years after last seen
    Height 100%4'10"–5'2" vs 5'3"

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (3)

    Does anyone know if there were any search efforts conducted in or around the area of Seymour Street... ...Read More
    11/18/2024
    Has anyone else looked into the timeline discrepancies in Josephine Chatraw's case? I was reading... ...Read More
    03/29/2024
    I've been digging into the timeline surrounding Josephine Chatraw's disappearance, and something... ...Read More
    01/28/2023

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