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Ronald Michael Kerling Missing Person Case

Last seen in Niagara Falls, New York on Jun 5, 2023

Victim Details

First Name

Ronald Michael

Last Name

Kerling

Current Age

Age At Disappearance

Height

70 inches

Height To

70 inches

Weight

181 lbs

Weight To

181 lbs

Ethnicity

White / Caucasian

Gender

Male

Clothing And Accessories Articles

Pants Green, Sweatpants, With a "U" symbol Shirt White, T-Shirt Shoes Black, Nike Air Jordans brand Tattoo Left Forearm, Text "JACOB" Tattoo Torso (Back), Jason's mask from the Friday the 13th movies Tattoo Left Upper Arm, Indigenous Person With Head

Last Seen

Jun 5, 2023

City

Niagara Falls

State

New York

Agency Name

Niagara Regional Police Service

Agency City

Niagara Regional

Contact Phone

(905) 688-4111

Agency Phone

(905) 688-4111

Agency Type

Law Enforcement

Agency Case #

2025-91516

Primary Agency

Niagara Regional Police Service

Hair Color

Black

Left Eye Color

Blue

Right Eye Color

Blue

Solved

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!

Summary based on 1 source

In the early summer of 2023, concerns grew for 42-year-old Ronald Michael Kerling, a resident of Cheektowaga, New York. He was last seen around June 5th or June 6th of that year. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a white male, standing between 5'8' and 5'10' tall, with a medium build, blue eyes, and black or brown hair, possibly with a full beard. His appearance is also distinguished by several tattoos, including the name 'JACOB' on his left forearm, a depiction of a Jason mask from the 'Friday the 13th' movies on his back, and an image of an Indigenous person on his left upper arm. Other tattoos include praying hands on his lower left abdomen and the names 'Nikki' and 'Dominic' on his arms, as well as a bulldog on his shoulder. When he was last seen, he may have been wearing green sweatpants, a white t-shirt, and black Nike Air Jordans.

The circumstances surrounding Ronald's disappearance are troubling. It has been reported that he was feeling despondent around the time he went missing. Additionally, his disappearance occurred after an argument with a family member. While his family noted that it was not entirely out of character for him to leave for a couple of weeks, it was highly unusual for him to have no contact with anyone. A significant clue in the investigation is that his cellphone last pinged in the area of the Upper Niagara River, near the American Falls. This piece of information has directed search efforts and remains a critical point in understanding his last known movements.

The Cheektowaga Police Department is investigating his disappearance and is seeking any information that could lead to his whereabouts. The lack of contact and the report of his emotional state have caused considerable worry among his family and the community. The investigation into Ronald Michael Kerling's disappearance is an active effort to uncover what happened to him after he was last seen. The case is a collection of concerning details, from his reported state of mind to the final signal from his phone, painting a picture of a man who vanished, leaving his loved ones with unanswered questions.
Last Seen: Jun 5, 2023

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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Canada's Missing - RCMP case 2025044624

Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

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.

77%Possible

John Doe — Manhattan, New York

UP131734 • Found Sep 30, 2024

View case

Sex ✓Male

Age 85%Est. 45–65 vs 42 when missing

Race 100%White

Location 75%Same state

TimingFound 16 months after last seen

Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"

Weight 78%143 lb vs 181 lb

Clothing: both mention sweatpant, nike

77%Possible

John Doe — Rochester, New York

UP161609 • Found Jul 8, 2026

View case

Sex ✓Male

Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 42 when missing

Race 100%White

Location 75%Same state

TimingFound 3 years after last seen

Height 100%5'3"–5'9" vs 5'10"

75%Possible

John Doe — Queens, New York

UP119685 • Found Jan 29, 2024

View case

Sex ✓Male

Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 42

Race 100%White

Location 75%Same state

TimingFound 8 months after last seen

Height 75%5'7"–6'2" vs 5'10"

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.

Ronald Michael Kerling Missing Person Case

Last seen in Niagara Falls, New York on Jun 5, 2023

Victim Details

Case Description

Links to Additional Sources (1)

Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

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