WI WI - Tara Sullivan, 47, Suspicious Circ, phone found in Ringle, veh found Hwy 29 Shawno Cty, resides in Weston, Apr 2023

[Protectwomenandgirls]

For reference here is the temps in Tara's area in mid April. There was a drastic fluctuation!

Mosinee, WI Weather History | Weather Underground

April 12 - high was 82 degrees and low was 54 degrees.
April 17 - high was 30 degrees and low was 27 degrees.

Tara's phone was found the morning of April 18th.

 

[Protectwomenandgirls]

Furthermore, if Tara was at a bar in Ringle (10 min from home) or Wittenberg (30 min from home) they don't close until 2am...or later...depending on if the bartender is willing to close the blinds and keep serving.
There's also a casino in Wittenberg that's open until 2-4 am.
This time of year these can be desolate, cold hours of the night.

I hope LEO is reviewing security footage of all establishments. I assume they have cameras, although when I worked at a dive bar in central Wisconsin the cameras weren't real.

I think most people don't understand how backwoods of an area this is.
And I mean that on a very positive note. In my experience, it's rare to encounter "stranger danger" in central Wisconsin.
I bartended solo for years and walked home alone after 3am after closing down the bar by myself.
For comparison, I don't even feel safe driving my car around alone in Oakland, California, where I unfortunately have the misfortune of working now...

All of that aside, women sadly aren't safe anywhere and everything should be explored to get Tara home safe

 

[Quoththeraven]

It wasn't stated what the condition of her vehicle was in when it was located. Was it drivable? IMO this is really important!!!
I grew up in Wisconsin and some of us kept sleeping bags and hot hands in our cars in winter in case they broke down.
10 days ago (April 17) two teenagers died of exposure near Rhinelander.
This was the night before Tara's phone was found.
On this night there was snow on the ground, a "second winter" my friend said.
Sometimes people aren't prepared for cold weather in spring
Also of importance, my husband used to drive frequently from Appleton to Eau Claire on this highway and he said it was very desolate at night
If she didn't have her phone (not sure if there is even cell service in this area) and her car broke down she may have left her car to search for help

I'd rule out her vehicle breaking down. Most people would immediately pull over to the side of the road they were on if they were experiencing car trouble. Her vehicle was found too far off State Highway 29 on Old 29 Road. (I estimate 300 feet) Suspicious circumstances were found at her residence in Weston, also.

I suppose once they process her phone (pinging her location and checking the last calls and/or texts) and vehicle, talk to potential witnesses, review cameras, etc. near her home and where her phone and car were found, we'll have a clearer picture of what may have happened.

IMO, whoever parked her vehicle on Old 29 Road left on foot, which means they lived nearby, or, had a second vehicle waiting or following her vehicle, which suggests at least two people were involved in her disappearance. I think that she was taken at her residence and taken somewhere before the time her phone was found in Ringle. Whoever took her, stopped in Ringle for some reason, threw her phone out in Ringle and continued on to Old 29 Road and ditched her vehicle. If she left her vehicle on foot on Old 29 Road, tracking dogs would have picked up her scent and trail.

Another scenario is she was taken in the opposite direction from Weston (Wausau) and her phone and vehicle were staged east of Weston to throw investigators off track of where she really ended up. Considering all the recent unsolved disappearances of women and children in Wausau in the last few years, that's a good possibility. I suppose it's a toss up as to which scenario would apply between all the missing women and children in Shawano County and all the missing women and children in Marathon County.

 

[youarentsilly]

Did we ever learn why Tara was in WA? I recall that her boss (or former boss?) said Tara worked out of a Wausau, WI office. Did Tara leave that job? Was she on vacation? It doesn't seem like she was ever licensed as a real estate agent in WA.

 

[azure]

Did we ever learn why Tara was in WA? I recall that her boss (or former boss?) said Tara worked out of a Wausau, WI office. Did Tara leave that job? Was she on vacation? It doesn't seem like she was ever licensed as a real estate agent in WA.

Tara went missing from her home in Weston, Wisconsin (WI). What is the WA connection?

 

[Protectwomenandgirls]

Tara went missing from her home in Weston, Wisconsin (WI). What is the WA connection?

There isn't a Washington connection. That was a misprint. Correct me if I'm wrong though

 

[Protectwomenandgirls]

I'd rule out her vehicle breaking down. Most people would immediately pull over to the side of the road they were on if they were experiencing car trouble. Her vehicle was found too far off State Highway 29 on Old 29 Road. (I estimate 300 feet) Suspicious circumstances were found at her residence in Weston, also.

I suppose once they process her phone (pinging her location and checking the last calls and/or texts) and vehicle, talk to potential witnesses, review cameras, etc. near her home and where her phone and car were found, we'll have a clearer picture of what may have happened.

IMO, whoever parked her vehicle on Old 29 Road left on foot, which means they lived nearby, or, had a second vehicle waiting or following her vehicle, which suggests at least two people were involved in her disappearance. I think that she was taken at her residence and taken somewhere before the time her phone was found in Ringle. Whoever took her, stopped in Ringle for some reason, threw her phone out in Ringle and continued on to Old 29 Road and ditched her vehicle. If she left her vehicle on foot on Old 29 Road, tracking dogs would have picked up her scent and trail.

Another scenario is she was taken in the opposite direction from Weston (Wausau) and her phone and vehicle were staged east of Weston to throw investigators off track of where she really ended up. Considering all the recent unsolved disappearances of women and children in Wausau in the last few years, that's a good possibility. I suppose it's a toss up as to which scenario would apply between all the missing women and children in Shawano County and all the missing women and children in Marathon County.

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I see your point and don't think suspicious circumstances should be ruled out, ever, in the case of a missing woman.

However, maybe she pulled off there to try to turn around if she felt her car was breaking down? 300 ft isn't very far, right?

*Imo, it would be really helpful to us if LEO would comment on the current condition of her vehicle*

Do tracking dogs still pick up scent if new snow is falling?

 

[Protectwomenandgirls]

I'd rule out her vehicle breaking down. Most people would immediately pull over to the side of the road they were on if they were experiencing car trouble. Her vehicle was found too far off State Highway 29 on Old 29 Road. (I estimate 300 feet) Suspicious circumstances were found at her residence in Weston, also.

I suppose once they process her phone (pinging her location and checking the last calls and/or texts) and vehicle, talk to potential witnesses, review cameras, etc. near her home and where her phone and car were found, we'll have a clearer picture of what may have happened.

IMO, whoever parked her vehicle on Old 29 Road left on foot, which means they lived nearby, or, had a second vehicle waiting or following her vehicle, which suggests at least two people were involved in her disappearance. I think that she was taken at her residence and taken somewhere before the time her phone was found in Ringle. Whoever took her, stopped in Ringle for some reason, threw her phone out in Ringle and continued on to Old 29 Road and ditched her vehicle. If she left her vehicle on foot on Old 29 Road, tracking dogs would have picked up her scent and trail.

Another scenario is she was taken in the opposite direction from Weston (Wausau) and her phone and vehicle were staged east of Weston to throw investigators off track of where she really ended up. Considering all the recent unsolved disappearances of women and children in Wausau in the last few years, that's a good possibility. I suppose it's a toss up as to which scenario would apply between all the missing women and children in Shawano County and all the missing women and children in Marathon County.

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I wasn't aware of any of these other cases until I saw your map, so thank you for taking the time to assemble and contribute this information.

 

[O2rsystems]

Hasn't sold a house since last May. Last FB message was Feb 2. Her last employer says she was previously affiliated with them. LE hasn't released any new information about the case and is telling searchers they don't want their help. Two off-duty Wausau police officers from Marathon County were the ones to discover Tara's car way over in Shawano County. ???

"Additionally, anyone who knows Tara well or has had contact with her in the past two weeks is asked to call the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office at..." tells me she's been missing two weeks instead of a couple days. I wonder how long her car was sitting on Old 29 Road before the two officers from the other county discovered it in full view of State Trunk Highway 29?

Tara was our realtor for one of our buildings in Mauston, WI. <modsnip>

 

[NervousNellie]

<modsnip - not an approved source>

Wondering if and when her family will hold a presser asking for information pertinent to finding Tara and bringing her home safely ?


Bbm.
The wording in this link makes it sound like LE think she could have left voluntarily ?

Did she have a boyfriend or a s/o ?
Any recent events in her life ?
Asking all of the usual questions, I know !

Yes, I saw that they indicate she may have left the area, but at least they still searched (are searching?), even though they acknowledge that's a possibility.

 

[NervousNellie]

New here. I live in the Central Wisconsin Area.
Looks like she was going to be evicted from her residence back in November 2022
Wisconsin Circuit Court Access
In the court documents, the address listed for her as of November 2022 is 5816 Connie Lane, Weston, WI 54476
Hope this points somebody in the right direction

Welcome @Silvert00th! Thanks for sharing that. While it looks like that case was resolved, it does provide some interesting information that does seem to match up to one of the FB comments I've seen.

 

[Silvert00th]

Latest update
https://wsau.com/2023/05/04/weston-woman-remains-missing/

 

[NervousNellie]

Latest update
https://wsau.com/2023/05/04/weston-woman-remains-missing/

Not much of an update, is it? No new information at all.

Edited to say - actually, some of that information is new for the media to release; I forgot I had learned about the garage door and situation inside the home on social media. I used to refuse to look a social media since we can't discuss it here (and frequently it is really just rumors) but forgot that I have started breaking my own rule...

From the article: "Officers have released more details regarding the suspicious circumstances that were found at her home when they tried to return her cell phone in late April. That includes damage to her garage door caused by a vehicle backing out of the structure while the door was still closed and “scattered locations of her possessions” inside the home."

 

[Quoththeraven]

Latest update
https://wsau.com/2023/05/04/weston-woman-remains-missing/

"Officers have released more details regarding the suspicious circumstances that were found at her home when they tried to return her cell phone in late April. That includes damage to her garage door caused by a vehicle backing out of the structure while the door was still closed and “scattered locations of her possessions” inside the home."

"She is known to be without her vehicle, cell phone, and purse, including her identification, credit cards, and cash."

It appears to be an abduction to me. Were her keys left in her vehicle? Was the gas tank empty? Did the phone last ping where it was found in Ringle (Marathon County) or did it last ping where the vehicle was found in the Town of Seneca (Shawano County)? When did it last ping? Where is the public input from friends, family or coworkers? Odd that there hasn't been any.

 

[Quoththeraven]

Not much of an update, is it? No new information at all.

Edited to say - actually, some of that information is new for the media to release; I forgot I had learned about the garage door and situation inside the home on social media. I used to refuse to look a social media since we can't discuss it here (and frequently it is really just rumors) but forgot that I have started breaking my own rule...

From the article: "Officers have released more details regarding the suspicious circumstances that were found at her home when they tried to return her cell phone in late April. That includes damage to her garage door caused by a vehicle backing out of the structure while the door was still closed and “scattered locations of her possessions” inside the home."

I agree, not much of an update. It appears Marathon and Shawano County are good areas to disappear or be disappeared. Leaving multiple options open of "mental health crisis, was abducted, or left under her own will" doesn't cut it.

 

[NervousNellie]

It appears to be an abduction to me. Were her keys left in her vehicle? Was the gas tank empty? Did the phone last ping where it was found in Ringle (Marathon County) or did it last ping where the vehicle was found in the Town of Seneca (Shawano County)? When did it last ping? Where is the public input from friends, family or coworkers? Odd that there hasn't been any.

Great questions, but particularly - where the phone last pinged vs where it was found is a great question! I am surprised there have been no interviews in media with current colleagues, but only from prior colleagues.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

"It's been incredibly difficult for our investigators to pinpoint the reason for Tara's disappearance," Captain of Investigations Jeff Stefonek of the Marathon County Sheriff's office said. "It remains unclear if Tara was experiencing a mental health crisis, was abducted, or left under her own will. Regardless of the reason, we hope Tara returns home safely in the end."

"In the coming days, our investigators will continue to review digital evidence from her cellphone and vehicle in an effort to better understand the circumstances around her disappearance and follow-up on any new information we receive. We ask that the community continue to keep an eye out and share any new tips or information with our office," Stefonek said.

Search for missing woman whose vehicle was found in Shawano County continues

Marathon County investigators say the search for a woman who went missing last month, continues.

fox11online.com

 

[Quoththeraven]

I am surprised there have been no interviews in media with current colleagues, but only from prior colleagues.

Michelle Maiman, the owner of the office in Appleton, confirmed that Tara Jane Sullivan has been working out of the company’s office in Wausau." WS post #54

I have to wonder about the statement from her employer stating Tara was working out of the company's office in Wausau (April, 2023) in light of the fact her real estate license expired 12/14/2022.

Also, how is anyone to recall if they saw her vehicle around the time she disappeared when they haven't even given the public a description or photo of the vehicle? Memories grow fainter as time goes on. What are they waiting for?

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Latest update
https://wsau.com/2023/05/04/weston-woman-remains-missing/

Also from the linked article:

Stefonek says they also plan to search her digital footprint including her cell phone for clues, but they will have to wait until they can unlock her phone. Getting into a locked phone involves what he calls a game of “forensic leap-frog” between the manufacturers of the forensic devices and Apple/Android. “They’ll come out with a [software] update, and then we can’t get into [the device] for a certain amount of time [until] the forensic companies come out with their latest update. That’s when we can get into the phones.”

 

[Quoththeraven]

There was significant damage to her garage door as these news photos show. Surely the neighbors must know when that happened and if it happened when she disappeared. It must have made quite a loud noise.

Sheriff’s Department continues to seek answers, clues leading to Weston woman’s whereabouts

Despite everyone’s best efforts, no significant developments have been reached in the case.

www.wsaw.com