NILES Jan. death is ruled homicide

The woman's two children found her dead at the bottom of the basement stairs.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- A sister of a city woman whose death in January has been ruled a homicide said the family is praying police catch the killer.
Jane E. Kleese, 35, of Cynthia Street, was found Jan. 23 dead at the bottom of the basement stairs of her home by her children Amber, 12, and Matthew, 16, when they returned from school.
The Trumbull County coroner's office ruled Thursday that the death was a homicide, and the cause of death asphyxia.
"The whole family is very upset," said Cheryl Boor of Hubbard, Kleese's sister. "We're very, very shocked.
"The whole family is praying very hard they catch whoever did this to our sister," Boor said. "She was a good mother, a good sister and a good wife."
The coroner's ruling says she was assaulted, but police wouldn't elaborate about the assault, citing an ongoing investigation.
"Basically, it's an open homicide investigation, and that's that," said Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk, forensic pathologist at the coroner's office.
Investigation: Kleese was wearing a robe, and a bundle of clothing was found nearby with articles of clothing strewn down the steps, according to the police report.
Chief Bruce Simeone and Capt. Charles Wilson said police have been interviewing people since shortly after Kleese was found and plan to continue. They couldn't put a time frame on when they hope to make an arrest.
"We're just not going to go away on it until we do," Simeone said.
There was no forced entry into the home and nothing was reported taken, he said.
Both Wilson and Simeone said they are hoping for information from the community. Police already have gotten information from community residents that's been helpful in the investigation, they said.
Wilson said Kleese was last seen dropping her daughter off at school about 8 a.m. Jan. 23. Her children found her body about 3:17 p.m. that day.
Police have been interviewing people since the death but didn't consider it a homicide investigation until the coroner's ruling. Family members told police that Kleese suffered from multiple sclerosis and was taking several medications.
Death cause: The coroner's ruling, which was made after all of the lab reports came back, determined none of those factors caused Kleese's death.
"On the initial incident report, it leaves open that it may have been an accident," Simeone said. "This was no accident."
Police declined to say how many people they consider suspects.
"We're keeping open minds," the chief said.
dick@vindy.com