In the city of Niles, Ohio, the unsolved murder of Jane Kleese, who was found dead in her home 23 years ago, is receiving renewed attention. Revisiting the cold case, young detectives have discovered new aspects of the investigation that were previously overlooked, prompting a reexamination. "We're gonna keep looking until we close it," Captain John Marshall of the Niles Police Department stated in an interview with Fox 8 News.
The case initially was considered an accidental fall in January 2002 until the coroner identified Jane Kleese's injuries as the result of being strangled and beaten. According to a statement obtained by WFMJ, detectives have since looked through the voluminous case file, following up on old leads and working closely with the Ohio BCI Cold Case Unit in an attempt to submit evidence for further lab testing.
In a renewed effort to shed light on the case, several witnesses have been reinterviewed in recent weeks. This attempt to uncover new details and bring closure to the case has given hope to Kleese’s family. "It's very encouraging. We couldn’t be more happy that they're taking a renewed interest in this, and we know for a fact that many, many cold cases are solved," Jane Kleese's brother, Thomas Woodward, expressed to WKBN.
Captain Marshall has also urged the community to come forward with any information they may have, emphasizing the potential importance of details that witnesses might have dismissed or forgotten over time. "Very possibly, somebody has some information that they've kind of dismissed...as being unimportant," Marshall explained in an interview with WFMJ. The Niles Police Department has made available channels for tips, including an anonymous tip line, inviting anyone with information to reach out, as even the smallest detail might finally help to solve a case that has haunted the Kleese family and the Niles community for decades.
