Family seeks donations to fund reward in effort to find woman's killer

Collection containers will be placed at several Mahoning Valley businesses.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Relatives of a city homicide victim are not ready to give up hope that her killer will one day be brought to justice.
The siblings of Jane Ellen Kleese are starting a change collection drive in an effort to establish a reward fund for the arrest and conviction of the person or person responsible for Kleese's death.
Kleese, 35, of Cynthia Street, was found dead Jan. 23, 2002, at the bottom of her basement stairs.
Initially, investigators believed the death was an accident because Kleese was on several kinds of medication for treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Based on lab reports, however, the Trumbull County Coroner's office ruled the death was caused by asphyxiation, not the fall or medication.
City police continue to investigate the open homicide case but have not yet named any suspects or charged anyone with Kleese's death. In Ohio, there is no statute of limitations on homicides.
At Farmers bank
Kleese's sister, Janet Price of East Palestine, said that the family is working with Farmers National Bank to manage the reward fund account and that containers for loose change will be placed at businesses throughout the Mahoning Valley.
"They will be at different restaurants, convenience stores and more," Price said.
Each of the containers will have a picture of Kleese on them, in the hopes that seeing her face may jog someone's memory.
"Maybe someone will see her face, her smile, and it will help them remember some detail," Price said. "Any little bit would help. We can't give up."
Money from the collection bins will routinely be deposited into the Farmers bank account, Price noted, but she is working with the bank to allow for donations to be taken directly to branch offices as well.
In the event the reward money is never claimed, Price added, the family has agreed to donate it to a local charity in their sister's honor.
"If no one claims the money, we want to donate it to [Forum Health] Tod Children's Hospital in Jane's name," she said.
slshaulis@vindy.com