Tara Jane Sullivan is a missing Weston, Wisconsin, realtor who disappeared on April 18, 2023, after her cell phone and vehicle were found abandoned, according to the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department.
On April 23, 2023, the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department wrote in a statement on its Facebook page that authorities “continue to search and seek information on the whereabouts of 47-year-old Tara Jane Sullivan of Weston.”
“We are grateful for the community’s concern and support,” Sarah Severson, Public Information Officer for the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, said in the news release. “We appreciate everyone that has called our office with a tip or helped us get the word out about Tara’s disappearance. We are confident someone saw something or knows something that will help us find Tara. We all want to see her come home safely.”
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Authorities Say They Found ‘Suspicious Circumstances’ Inside Tara Jane Sullivan’s Home After Discovering Her Cell Phone
On April 18, 2023, in a post on Facebook the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office announced that it was “asking for the public’s assistance in locating Tara Jane Sullivan, a 47-year-old Weston woman. Tara is approximately 5’ 7” tall, 128 pounds, and has green eyes. Her current hair color and clothing description is unknown.”
The morning before, deputies “responded to the report of a cellphone found in the Town of Ringle and learned it belongs to Tara,” the release said. “In an attempt to return the phone, deputies went to her residence in the Village of Weston. Tara was not present and deputies discovered suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance. An attempt-to-locate alert was broadcast to neighboring law enforcement agencies at that time.”
According to the release, that afternoon, “off-duty officers of the Wausau Police Department were traveling on Highway 29 in Shawano County and saw Tara’s unoccupied vehicle parked on the side of the road. A search led by the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office has been initiated in the area along Highway 29 between Wittenberg and Shawano.”
They added “At the time of this release, Tara’s whereabouts are still unknown.”
On May 4, sheriff’s officials released a lengthy press release that gave new details:
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻
𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴Since the April 19, 2023, announcement that 47-year-old Tara Jane Sullivan of Weston was missing, law enforcement has conducted numerous ground, drone and K9 searches, examined multiple leads, and processed several pieces of evidence in hopes it would lead them to Tara, or a better understanding of the circumstances around her disappearance. Despite everyone’s best efforts, no significant developments have been reached in the case.
“It’s been incredibly difficult for our investigators to pinpoint the reason for Tara’s disappearance,” shared Captain of Investigations Jeff Stefonek of the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office. “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.”
Sullivan’s disappearance was deemed to be suspicious in nature to due to the damage discovered at her home on Tuesday, April 18, when deputies from the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office went to her residence to return a lost cellphone. Upon arrival, deputies found substantial damage to the home’s garage door caused by a vehicle backing through the door while exiting the garage. Additionally, the scattered locations of her possessions have continued to add complexity to her disappearance.
Sullivan is described to be approximately 5’ 7” tall, 128 pounds, with green eyes. Her current hair color and clothing description is unknown. She is known to be without her vehicle, cellphone, and purse, including her identification, credit cards, and cash.
“The support we’ve received in getting the word out about Tara’s disappearance from communities across the state has been remarkable,” shared Captain Stefonek. “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.”
Anyone who knows Sullivan well, or has had recent contact with her is encouraged to call the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office at 715-261-1200, option 5, to speak with an investigator. If you see Tara or know of her whereabouts, please call 9-1-1 so that law enforcement can verify her safety.
While the investigation into Sullivan’s disappearance will continue, this will be the last update in the case until there are significant developments to report. The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the assistance of the Everest-Metro Police Department and the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office throughout this case. Any future developments in this case will be posted to the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
2. The Sheriff’s Department Says ‘Numerous Ground Searches’ Produced No ‘Significant Developments in the Case’
The Marathon County Sheriff’s Department wrote in the release that “numerous ground searches” were completed.
“Since Wednesday’s announcement that Sullivan was missing, numerous ground searches have been completed by law enforcement and search and rescue professionals in the areas where her phone and vehicle were located, but have not led to any significant developments in the case,” the release said.
“As the efforts to locate Sullivan continue, authorities will continue to follow up on any and all tips received while also processing evidence such as her cellphone and vehicle. The Sheriff’s Office continues to encourage anyone that knows Tara well, or has had contact with her in the past two weeks to call 715-261-1200, option 5, to speak with an investigator,” they wrote.
“We know that Tara has some connections in the Fox Valley area and it’s possible she has left both Marathon and Shawano counties,” added Severson. “We are considering all options at this point.”
Sullivan is described “to be approximately 5’ 7” tall, 128 pounds, with green eyes. Her current hair color and clothing description is unknown. If you see Tara or know of her whereabouts, please call 9-1-1 so that law enforcement can verify her safety,” the Sheriff’s Department wrote.
The Sheriff’s release said: “This is an active and ongoing investigation. The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office has been assisted by the Everest Metropolitan Police Department and the Shawano Sheriff’s Office.”
3. Tara Jane Sullivan Filled Her Facebook Page With Selfies & the Natural Environment
Tara Jane Sullivan’s Facebook page is filled with selfies, pictures with friends, and photos of the landscapes.
“Sometimes you just gotta stop and smell the…magnolia tree blooms.🤩” she wrote in May 2022 with a pictures of a flower.
She also posted inspirational sayings and pictures showing her out with friends.
Sullivan also wrote about religion: “When Monday night worship gets cancelled, you can still have fellowship and church anywhere.
4. Tara Jane Sullivan Works as a Realtor
Sullivan wrote about getting new real estate listings on Facebook.
In one post, she wrote, “So far we have not one, but two kitchen sinks on the porch for interesting items at showings today….”
According to WBAY, Michelle Maiman and Hope Graff from Realty ONE Group Haven (with offices in Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Wausau) issued a statement confirming that “Tara Jane Sullivan has previously been affiliated with Realty ONE Group Haven, and during that time developed great friendships with all of those on our team. We are all cooperating with law enforcement to assist with their investigation.”
They told WBAY: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Tara and all who love and care for her, and we are hopeful for her safe return. We ask that anyone that has information that would assist law enforcement in her safe return, to please call the tip line.”
Maiman also told WBAY that Sullivan was working out of the company’s Wausau office.
5. Tara Jane Sullivan Wrote That She Enjoyed ‘Being Active’
On a realty website, Sullivan wrote: “Each property and transaction are unique, and so are you: the buyers and sellers involved with them. I’d love to meet with you, hear your story, and help you write chapters of success.”
She added:
I’ve got some amazing resources and am well-versed in waterfront and vacation homes. They are my cuppa! Got one to sell in the city? I can help with that, too.
I enjoy being active. You may see me on the water, in the park, or on a walking trail: snowshoeing, biking, hiking, etc., and hunting for the best pictures in between phone calls, text messages, contracts, and appointments.
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