NY NY - Sheryl Tillinghast, 17, Wassaic, 24 Sept 1973

[theshadow45]

Bumping, today is Sheryl’s birthday.

 

[Diane Redfern]

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/poughkeepsiejournal/name/james-harrell-obituary?id=26050553

I think this is Myron's brother. Apparently he died before James, but there's no other mention of him.

 

[theshadow45]

Sheryl has been missing for 51 years today.

 

[Aurora90]

Comments on Charleyblog are interesting indeed. If true, concerning that she hasn’t been found. How big are the grounds? It has a lot of marsh, am I understanding that correctly?

 

[blayneyyy25]

Was this jane doe ruled out? I feel like there are a few similarities and couldn't hurt to check into.

 

[Caring1]

Was this jane doe ruled out? I feel like there are a few similarities and couldn't hurt to check into.

Yes, UP2607 is already listed as an exclusion to Sheryl.

 

[theshadow45]

Today is Sheryl’s birthday.

 

[spartanx]

I don't normally suggest that the person is still alive, especially after all this time... but, looking at it objectively, we have a young woman who was raised in a single-wide trailer with ten other siblings, was abandoned as a child by her parents through institutionalization... she admitted to physical and verbal abuse from her family, had a history of substance use disorder and addiction with her mother, and her mother didn't seem to make an effort to find her... Objectively speaking, it doesn't seem like an environment anyone would want to return to...
Some obvious variables make me question her life, of course... the abusive boyfriend, the failure to contact DFS to ensure her siblings were well taken care of... However, these same variables could also be considered factors that led to her disappearance... not only did she not have family support, but her boyfriend was abusive, and he also had a criminal record? This girl can't catch a break... totally overwhelmed
In most cases, it seems highly unlikely that the person will be recovered alive... given that this woman disappeared in 1973, a time when self-identification was much easier than today, I sincerely believe this could be a case of runaway and relocation... I don't think she wanted to be found... and with good reason...
and... The abandoned checks make me think... but it's possible that she felt the need to run away (from her boyfriend?) too urgently to get back home to get them, and she still did it...
whatever it is
Rest in peace, Sheryl

 

[ar1el1nas]

52 years without Sheryl today.

 

[ar1el1nas]

Did we ever rule out the Irondequoit Jane Doe?

 

[ar1el1nas]

Ignore my previous message, she was already ruled out on the list. This may be a massive stretch but 231UFGA hasn't been ruled out as far as I know.

 

[summergirl1]

These are some interesting photos of the abandoned former Wassaic State School, where Sheryl likely spent her last days. It closed in 2013. Unearthing Shadows: Remembering Wassaic and Imagining a Better Tomorrow

 

[ar1el1nas]

These are some interesting photos of the abandoned former Wassaic State School, where Sheryl likely spent her last days. It closed in 2013. Unearthing Shadows: Remembering Wassaic and Imagining a Better Tomorrow

The campus is still partially in use by the Taconic DDSO, who are still the same people of the Wassaic School, but the only campus building still used and not condemned is Berkshire Hall, they use it for administration stuff.

 

[ar1el1nas]

Submitted UP4611 as a possible match for Sheryl on the 5th. Waiting to hear back.

 

[ar1el1nas]

Comments on Charleyblog are interesting indeed. If true, concerning that she hasn’t been found. How big are the grounds? It has a lot of marsh, am I understanding that correctly?

They searched the marsh, nothing was found. The grounds have 24 buildings on them, and the whole grounds and the marsh were searched several times. Three other dead residents were found, two dying after escaping and being unable to find their way back, and the other being a severely mentally disabled man who wandered off and drowned in a pond on campus. No trace of Sheryl's remains.

 

[ar1el1nas]

I submitted a FOIL request to access Sheryl's employment records last night, it might not yield much helpful information but it's good to try.

 

[ar1el1nas]

UP4611 was denied as a potential match by the Doe Network due to distance. I'm planning to contact the Grimes County Sheriff's Office myself on the matter, I truly need real closure on it.

 

[Richard]

Missing for over 50 years

Sheryl Tillinghast, age 17
Missing since 24 September 1973

Sheryl has been missing for over 52 years.

 

[bettyboop]

I've been following along, and this case is so heartbreaking. I can only say that my heart goes out to her siblings and other family, who are still searching for Sheryl. The boyfriend/coworker is the obvious suspect, but has since passed. And it seems to me , his family members who also worked at the Wassaic State School helped in covering up what is probably her murder. @ar1el1nas, welcome to Websleuths, and thank you for your work on this case. A question for you and everyone reading this thread; I know the Wassaic State School was searched, but I noticed what looks to be a water tower there. Could Sheryls body have been placed in there?? Thoughts? JMO MOO

 

[ar1el1nas]

I've been following along, and this case is so heartbreaking. I can only say that my heart goes out to her siblings and other family, who are still searching for Sheryl. The boyfriend/coworker is the obvious suspect, but has since passed. And it seems to me , his family members who also worked at the Wassaic State School helped in covering up what is probably her murder. @ar1el1nas, welcome to Websleuths, and thank you for your work on this case. A question for you and everyone reading this thread; I know the Wassaic State School was searched, but I noticed what looks to be a water tower there. Could Sheryls body have been placed in there?? Thoughts? JMO MOO

Harrel's family did cover up her murder. I live near enough to the campus to visit if I drive a bit, you won't meet one employee who thinks Sheryl wasn't murdered. There is one water tower and one water tank on campus, both built in 1930. Her body can't be in the tower, as the tower never went out of use, and supplied I believe the entire campus. The tank is currently out of use, but I imagine it was still being used in 1973. The staff would have checked the water tower and water tank if there was anything off with the water quality. One place I'm not sure was ever properly searched was the cemetery on campus. I'm planning to drive down in March to get some footage and hopefully take a look at the cemetery for anything weird outside the usual asylum cemetery. Here's a map of the campus. Let me know any more theories you may have.