America's Most Wanted posts details of killing

The family of a slain Niles woman is still searching for justice.
THE VINDICATOR
By TIM YOVICH
Vindicator Trumbull Staff
NILES -- The circumstances surrounding the unsolved killing of Jane Ellen Kleese four years ago have been posted on America's Most Wanted Web site -- AMW.com.
One of Kleese's sisters, Janet Price of East Palestine, said Friday that she hopes the posting will move someone with information about the homicide to come forward.
"My mother needs justice. She deserves justice for her baby," Price said.
Kleese, who lived on Cynthia Street, was found dead Jan. 23, 2002, at the bottom of her basement stairs by her children.
She had dropped her daughter off at school in the morning and was found dead in the afternoon. There was no sign of forced entry and nothing was taken from the home, police have said.
Police initially believed the death was an accident. However, the Trumbull County Coroner's Office ruled that the 35-year-old mother of two died of asphyxiation by assault and not as a result of a fall down the stairs.
Keeping it alive
Price said that her sisters, Cheryl Boor of Hubbard and Nada Valles of New York City, her brother, Tom Woodward of Youngstown, and their mother, Ila Jean Woodward of Niles, want to keep the case alive and before the public.
Price explained that Kleese's two children, Amber, who was 12 at the time of the homicide, and Matthew, who was 16, don't want the case kept in the public eye.
Kleese's children believe that whoever killed their mother will be brought to justice by God, Price said.
The case was posted on AMW's Web site Thursday.
"It's still at a standstill," Price said of the investigation. "They [Niles police] have a suspect but won't name him."
About 500 fliers were passed out and posted in 2004, but most of them were taken down, Price said.
The family is now distributing fliers drawing attention to AMW's Web site.
Anyone with information is asked to call Niles police, (330) 652-9944. They can also e-mail messages to janekleese@comcast.net.
Donations are also being accepted at any Farmers National Bank for a reward fund that will be given for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the death.
yovich@vindy.com