Found Deceased WI - Kathleen Ryan, adult, teacher, car found burned with body inside, St. Francis, 2 Feb 2019

[GuyfromCanada]

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — It could take weeks or months to identify the remains of a body found Saturday night in a burning vehicle as fear grows that it could be a Milwaukee teacher who was last seen earlier in the day.

'Badly burned body' found in vehicle belonging to missing teacher

 

[Schmitz5100]

The number of carjackings in Milwaukee and nearby suburbs are occurring at an alarming rate. Sadly, I do think that’s probably what happened here. I love Milwaukee but there are definitely times I’m uneasy.

 

[LarkBunting]

The number of carjackings in Milwaukee and nearby suburbs are occurring at an alarming rate. Sadly, I do think that’s probably what happened here. I love Milwaukee but there are definitely times I’m uneasy.

Aren’t carjackings usually to take the car, though? This car was a 2007, so 12 years old. Don’t carjackers usually go for newer or higher end cars? Then again, don’t carjackers usually force the driver to get out, then steal the car? If someone wanted to steal a car, why not steal one that’s unoccupied, or just tell the driver to get out?

To me, the fact that she wasn’t forced out of her car (assuming it’s her body) so it could be stolen, & the fact that the car was set (assuming intentionally) on fire, means that the hypothetical perp was trying to destroy evidence of some other, more serious, crime.

Assuming this was not an accident & not a suicide (I don’t think it was either of these), what could the hypothetical perp have gotten from this? Not a car, clearly. Money from the ATM? Credit cards? Why not just steal a purse, then, or force someone to withdraw money, then flee? God forbid, a sex crime? Some horrible sort of gang initiation? Someone psychotic or out of their mind on drugs? Revenge, but really, on someone who seems like such a kind person & model citizen?

I can’t wrap my mind around it.

 

[sewnosy]

Teachers will sometimes not put their last names on social media pages because they don't want students finding them, but I did notice that on one of her pages she is using her maiden name. That could also mean that she is divorced.

 

[yabbyyou]

I'd be interested to know how many area crimes wind up as arson cases, with the victim found deceased in a burned vehicle in the driveway of a house in an outlying area about an hour from the location where he or she was last reported seen.

It's most likely a horrible accident or even a suicide.

 

[doodles1211]

Carjackers do not usually come prepared with the items needed to burn a car to that extent...IMO. It's hard to threaten someone with your hands full of gas cans or whatever...

 

[Elainera]

As @GraceG was saying, women do not tend to commit suicide in such a manner. The psychology being they do not want to make a mess in death. For lack of better wording at the moment.
They do not want their appearance marred.
You will see that not many women will use a firearm and shoot themselves in the face or head. They will shoot themselves in the chest.
So, setting yourself on fire would be more rare for a female.
Sorry if I grossed anyone out! I am just added my first hand experience info.

Going by that same reasoning, someone who has a very negative self-image might choose burning because then all they felt so bad about has been obliterated.

I could also imagine someone who commits suicide out of overwhelming guilt choosing this method.

jmo

Sad topic.

Not in any way implying Kathleen has/had a negative opinion of herself or is eaten up by feelings of guilt.

 

[Elainera]

Carjackers do not usually come prepared with the items needed to burn a car to that extent...IMO. It's hard to threaten someone with your hands full of gas cans or whatever...

Maybe she had a spare can in the trunk and burning the car and person in it was more like an afterthought and a crime of opportunity.

I believe the person was already dead when the car was set on fire. jmo Covering up a different crime (rape?) and eliminating evidence seems the most likely motive.

 

[Schmitz5100]

Aren’t carjackings usually to take the car, though? This car was a 2007, so 12 years old. Don’t carjackers usually go for newer or higher end cars? Then again, don’t carjackers usually force the driver to get out, then steal the car? If someone wanted to steal a car, why not steal one that’s unoccupied, or just tell the driver to get out?

To me, the fact that she wasn’t forced out of her car (assuming it’s her body) so it could be stolen, & the fact that the car was set (assuming intentionally) on fire, means that the hypothetical perp was trying to destroy evidence of some other, more serious, crime.

Assuming this was not an accident & not a suicide (I don’t think it was either of these), what could the hypothetical perp have gotten from this? Not a car, clearly. Money from the ATM? Credit cards? Why not just steal a purse, then, or force someone to withdraw money, then flee? God forbid, a sex crime? Some horrible sort of gang initiation? Someone psychotic or out of their mind on drugs? Revenge, but really, on someone who seems like such a kind person & model citizen?

I can’t wrap my mind around it.

Not at all. The carjackers will take whatever is easy and accessible and sometimes not even easy! In one case, there was a carjacking of a mom, her sister, and all her kids. The only thing that is a little odd is the car being set on fire but it could also be some kind of gang initation. Totally my own speculation. MOO

 

[LarkBunting]

Her husband, or possibly ex-husband, does have a mug shot.

She is married & she & her husband have three adult sons.

Kathleen Ryan – Augustine Prep

 

[doodles1211]

Maybe she had a spare can in the trunk and burning the car and person in it was more like an afterthought and a crime of opportunity.

I believe the person was already dead when the car was set on fire. jmo Covering up a different crime (rape?) and eliminating evidence seems the most likely motive.

IMO- to get that car burning like that you need more than 2 gallons of gasoline. Which, is probably the average size gas can.

 

[sewnosy]

She is married & she & her husband have three adult sons.

Kathleen Ryan – Augustine Prep

Yes, I saw that. But she isn't using Ryan as her last name on social media. And her husband is not listed as an occupant at her current address.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Carjackers do not usually come prepared with the items needed to burn a car to that extent...IM7O. It's hard to threaten someone with your hands full of gas cans or whatever...

Exactly.

I firmly believe this is a horrific homicide.

Imo, the most logical conclusion the fire was set was to cover up any incriminating evidence that would be found on the victim's body or inside, and outside of the vehicle itself.

I think the suspect had to know the area where she and her vehicle was found.

The reason why she was burned so badly is because whoever they are they poured at least part of accelerant right on top of her body.

How far was it from where she started out to where she was found?

Imo, once murdering her the perp probably had to buy gasoline if that is what was used. Are there any gas stations or convenience stores in the close proximity where she was found? I know police will check cameras at the nearest stores to see as they try to retrace her steps once leaving.

The fire investigators would already know if it was an accident or not because if accelerant was doused on the outside or inside or both there would be notable hot spots even laypeople wouldnt see.

Imo, they know this was no accident. That could be quickly determined by the expert fire investigators, and to ease the minds of the family, and public they would have already said it was due to a terrible freak accident.

Imo, one thing I will never do prematurely, and that is I am certainly not going to speculate this lovely woman committed suicide when there is absolutely nothing supporting that asumption.

In fact from what we learned thus far it is quite the opposite, and she had a happy life. I've seen nothing showing this woman was having any problems where she would take this drastic measure. None at all. Not one person who knows her well has said anything pointing to her even being depressed about anything.

I think to assume she committed suicide diminishes the seriousness of what may have really happened to her, and what she may have endured at the hands of someone else. JMOO though.

I pray they find out who did this. We are living in such scary times where strangers target innocent people right in broad daylight now, and there is no rhyme or reason for why they do the evil things they do.

I dont care who the suspect or suspects turnout to be.

Jmoo

 

[whitelilac]

"a teacher at St. Augustine school on Milwaukee's south side"
Does anyone know if this was a high school? Also any info on what kind of an area "the south side" is?

This is heartbreaking and horrible. Poor woman.
I do not believe this was anything other than a crime....and brutal at that.

 

[rk23]

I grew up on the south side of Milwaukee, and at the time it was pretty quiet and suburban. Some of the neighborhoods have gone downhill a bit since then -- in the last few years my parents have seen cops making drug busts at a house down the block, which would have been unthinkable when I lived there. There are more car breakins and stuff. But serious violence isn't commonplace.

It looks like St. Augustine is a huge and very ambitious K-12 school that just opened a couple of years ago.

 

[LarkBunting]

"a teacher at St. Augustine school on Milwaukee's south side"
Does anyone know if this was a high school? Also any info on what kind of an area "the south side" is?

This is heartbreaking and horrible. Poor woman.
I do not believe this was anything other than a crime....and brutal at that.

The school website says it has students in Kindergarten through high school. Ms. Ryan is listed as a “Business Teacher,” but no grade level is mentioned that I could find. (Some of the other teachers are listed as “1st Grade Teacher,” etc.) I’m guessing she taught more toward the high school level, as Business is generally a high school class, she formerly taught at another high school, & I’ve seen some of her current students posting about her on FB (& they appear to be teenaged/high school aged).

 

[Trudie]

The number of carjackings in Milwaukee and nearby suburbs are occurring at an alarming rate. Sadly, I do think that’s probably what happened here. I love Milwaukee but there are definitely times I’m uneasy.

Milwaukee rocks! I grew up just outside, moved on as an adult. I’m glad. It’s a great place to visit but crime is soaring.
Hopefully answers are found soon. This makes no sense.
I wonder if she had anyone in her life she was concerned about.

 

[kay74]

The number of carjackings in Milwaukee and nearby suburbs are occurring at an alarming rate. Sadly, I do think that’s probably what happened here. I love Milwaukee but there are definitely times I’m uneasy.

I thought this happened in Illinois.

 

[Wagtales10]

Not at all. The carjackers will take whatever is easy and accessible and sometimes not even easy! In one case, there was a carjacking of a mom, her sister, and all her kids. The only thing that is a little odd is the car being set on fire but it could also be some kind of gang initation. Totally my own speculation. MOO

But that makes no sense though. Car Jackings are mostly for cars. Do you have a link that provides statistics? IMO thats likely one of the lesser possible situations.

This crime seems personal.

 

[Schmitz5100]

But that makes no sense though. Car Jackings are mostly for cars. Do you have a link that provides statistics? IMO thats likely one of the lesser possible situations.

This crime seems personal.

Carjackings are often not about the car but to pull off other crimes. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if they have any video footage. Until then everything is just speculation. Here is an article where they touch upon carjackings used for other crimes. The Truth About Car Jacking | Home Security Tips by The Security Sensei (Jordan Frankel)