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Missing Person — Active Case — Circumstances Unknown

The Disappearance of Tara Jane Sullivan

● Active — Three Years Missing Suspicious Circumstances Cause Unknown NamUs MP104047 Weston, Wisconsin
Missing Person
Tara Jane Sullivan
Age at Disappearance
47 years old
Last Seen
April 18, 2023 — Weston, Wisconsin
Vehicle Found
Old Hwy 29, Shawano County — Same Day
Lead Agency
Marathon County Sheriff's Office
NamUs
MP104047
Circumstances
Suspicious — Cause Unknown
Case Status
Active — No Arrests — Three Years Missing
The Missing

Tara Jane Sullivan

Tara Jane Sullivan — Missing Since April 18, 2023
Full Name Tara Jane Sullivan
Year of Birth 1975; would be 51 as of 2026
Age at Disappearance 47 years old
Last Seen April 18, 2023
Residence Weston, Wisconsin (Village of Weston)
Height / Weight 5'7" — 128 lbs
Eyes Green
Hair Blonde to bright red; color at disappearance unknown
Occupation Former realtor; real estate photographer

Tara Jane Sullivan was 47 years old and had been living in the Village of Weston, just southeast of Wausau in Marathon County, Wisconsin, for a little over a year at the time of her disappearance. She lived alone in a rented duplex and was known to her neighbors primarily as someone who kept to herself. The only regular contact neighbors had with her was seeing her on her daily walks. Even after her disappearance, a neighborhood canvass turned up little information; few people nearby knew her at all.

Tara had spent a decade working as a real estate agent, specializing in waterfront and vacation homes. She had joined Realty ONE Group Haven, an Appleton-based company, in 2021, but had not renewed her real estate license in December 2022, which meant she was not legally permitted to sell homes at the time of her disappearance. She had been exploring a pivot to photographing homes for realtors, though investigators were unable to confirm she had obtained any work in that capacity. Her father appeared to have been helping her with rent.

Tara was a deeply private person. Analysis of her phone, Apple Watch, and iPad after her disappearance revealed no romantic relationships, no close or consistent friendships, and no conversations suggesting plans to leave. Investigators described her social footprint as largely absent in ways that went beyond ordinary privacy. The most consistent communication on her devices reflected her faith. Her car carried a custom license plate reading "MAT6 33," a reference to Matthew 6:33. She posted regularly about God on social media and had searched YouTube for religious content. She was not affiliated with a local church.

The last person to have meaningful contact with Tara was her father, approximately two weeks before she disappeared. Her father suffered a stroke in the months after her disappearance and is now in an assisted living facility. Investigators have stated they hope, if Tara is alive and able to see this, that she will contact her father. He wants to hear her voice.

Tara Sullivan — Alternate Hair Color
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Background

What We Know

On the morning of April 18, 2023, Marathon County Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of an Apple iPhone found at the dead end of Ringle Avenue in the Town of Ringle, Wisconsin. The phone was traced to Tara Jane Sullivan, a 47-year-old resident of the nearby Village of Weston. Deputies drove to her duplex to return it.

What they found at the home was not Tara. It was a garage door that had been substantially damaged, smashed out from the inside as though a vehicle had backed hard through it while exiting the garage. The interior of the home appeared otherwise unremarkable. There was no indication of a struggle, no sign of travel preparations, and nothing obviously out of place. Deputies issued an attempt-to-locate alert. Tara was not inside and could not be reached.

Investigators later established that the garage door was likely damaged at approximately 7 p.m. on the evening of April 17. Neighbors had heard a sound but saw nothing and reported nothing suspicious at the time. This meant there was a gap of several hours between when Tara most likely left and when her phone was found the following morning, and a further gap before deputies arrived at the home.

That same afternoon, off-duty Wausau Police Department officers traveling on Highway 29 in Shawano County spotted Tara's white 2017 Buick Enclave parked along Old Highway 29, approximately 40 yards south of the highway and about 30 miles east of her Weston home. The car was intact, drivable, and had gas in the tank. There was minimal damage to the rear of the vehicle. Tara's purse was inside with her driver's license, wallet and credit cards. The keys were in the cupholder. There was no blood, no broken windows, no signs of a struggle, and no receipts, fingerprints or other identifying information belonging to anyone else. Tara was nowhere near the vehicle.

Investigators examined data from Tara's cell phone, Apple Watch, and iPad. The digital record was striking in what it lacked. There was no evidence of a romantic relationship. There were no close or consistent friendships. There were no conversations suggesting plans to leave or fears about safety. There was no communication with anyone that investigators found meaningful in the days immediately preceding her disappearance. The last meaningful contact on any of her devices was with her father, approximately two weeks before she vanished. On March 30, 2023, she had texted a realtor contact about following God; the contact did not respond. As of April 2026, three years on, the Marathon County Sheriff's Office confirms the investigation remains active and that investigators continue to dedicate significant time and resources to the case. Tara Sullivan has not been found.

Case Timeline

How It Unfolded

Early April 2023
Last Known Contact — Father and a Realtor Acquaintance
The last meaningful contact Tara has with anyone is with her father, approximately two weeks before she disappears. NamUs lists her date of last contact as April 11, 2023. On March 30, she sends a text message to a realtor acquaintance referencing following God; the contact does not respond. No other significant communication is found on any of her devices in the days leading up to her disappearance.
Evening of April 17, 2023 — Approximately 7 p.m.
Garage Door Damaged — Neighbors Hear Sound but See Nothing
Investigators later establish that the damage to Tara's garage door most likely occurred at approximately 7 p.m. on the evening of April 17. The door was smashed from the inside, consistent with a vehicle backing through it forcefully while exiting the garage. Neighbors hear a noise but do not see anything suspicious and do not call police. Tara's whereabouts from this point forward are unknown.
Morning of April 18, 2023
Cell Phone Found on Dead-End Road in Ringle
Marathon County Sheriff's deputies respond to a report of an Apple iPhone found at the dead end of Ringle Avenue in the Town of Ringle, Wisconsin. The phone is identified as belonging to Tara Jane Sullivan. Deputies drive to her Weston duplex to return it. They find substantial damage to the garage door and Tara absent from the home. The interior appears normal with no signs of struggle or travel. An attempt-to-locate alert is issued to neighboring law enforcement agencies.
Afternoon of April 18, 2023
Tara's Car Found Abandoned in Shawano County — 30 Miles East
Off-duty Wausau Police Department officers traveling Highway 29 in Shawano County spot Tara's white 2017 Buick Enclave parked approximately 40 yards south of State Highway 29 along Old Highway 29. The car is intact and drivable with gas remaining. Tara's purse is inside, containing her driver's license, wallet and credit cards. The keys are in the cupholder. There is no blood, no broken windows, no evidence of a struggle. No receipts or fingerprints belonging to anyone other than Tara are found. The location is approximately 30 miles east of her Weston home. Tara is not present.
April 19, 2023
Marathon County Sheriff's Office Issues Public Appeal
The Marathon County Sheriff's Office posts on Facebook asking for the public's assistance in locating Tara Jane Sullivan. The disappearance is classified as suspicious due to the damage to her garage door and the scattered locations of her possessions across three separate communities. Ground searches, drone searches, and K9 searches begin. A neighborhood canvass is conducted; few neighbors know Tara. The Everest-Metro Police Department and Shawano County Sheriff's Office assist in the investigation.
May 2023
Sheriff Issues Update — No Significant Developments — Investigation Continues Privately
Captain of Investigations Jeff Stefonek releases a public update stating that despite numerous ground searches and extensive examination of evidence, no significant developments have been reached. The cause of Tara's disappearance remains unclear. Investigators cannot determine whether she was experiencing a mental health crisis, was abducted, or left under her own will. Stefonek states this will be the last public update until there are significant developments. The investigation continues privately.
Summer 2023
Tara's Father Suffers a Stroke
A few months after Tara's disappearance, her father suffers a stroke. He survives but is moved to an assisted living facility. He was the person who had the most regular contact with Tara before she disappeared and was likely helping her with rent. Investigators later express publicly that they hope Tara will contact her father if she is alive and able to do so.
April 18, 2024 — One Year
One-Year Mark — Investigators Share Digital Investigation Details
For the first time, investigators publicly share details of the digital investigation into Tara's devices. They confirm that data from her cell phone, Apple Watch and iPad revealed no romantic relationships, no close friendships, no communication suggesting plans to leave, and no meaningful digital footprint in the days before her disappearance. They confirm her real estate license had lapsed and she was not working. They say the garage door damage appears to have occurred at approximately 7 p.m. the evening of April 17. They say they cannot explain her disappearance. WSAW's Forgotten Wisconsin Cold Cases series covers the investigation.
April 17, 2026 — Three Years
Three Years — Case Remains Active — No Significant Developments
On the eve of the three-year anniversary of Tara's disappearance, the Marathon County Sheriff's Office confirms to NewsChannel 7 that the investigation remains active and that investigators continue to dedicate significant time and resources to following up on leads and reviewing information related to the case. Tara Sullivan has still not been found. No arrests have been made. The cause of her disappearance remains unknown.
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Law Enforcement

The Investigation

The investigation into Tara Sullivan's disappearance is led by the Marathon County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Everest-Metro Police Department and the Shawano County Sheriff's Office. Captain of Investigations Jeff Stefonek and Detective Cassandra Seubert have been the primary public-facing investigators in the case. Tara is registered in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System as case MP104047.

The initial investigation in April and May 2023 included numerous ground searches by law enforcement and search and rescue professionals, drone and K9 searches, a neighborhood canvass, and examination of multiple leads and pieces of evidence. The canvass of Tara's neighborhood yielded little; she was largely unknown to her neighbors beyond the occasional sighting during her daily walks. No witnesses emerged who could provide meaningful information about her movements on the night of April 17 or the morning of April 18.

Investigators processed digital evidence from Tara's cell phone, Apple Watch and iPad. The findings were striking in their absence. There was no evidence of any romantic relationship. There were no close or consistent friendships visible in her communications. There were no conversations suggesting plans to travel, concerns about safety, or indications of any conflict with another person. Captain Stefonek described her communications as largely missing in ways that stood out even beyond ordinary privacy. No receipts, no identifying fingerprints from other individuals, and no meaningful digital traces of other people were found in her vehicle either.

Investigators determined that Tara's real estate license had lapsed in December 2022, meaning she was not working as a realtor at the time of her disappearance despite her listing on real estate platforms. She had been exploring house photography work but no evidence of active employment in that field was found. Investigators believe her father had been subsidizing her rent. These facts paint a picture of a woman who had become increasingly isolated from professional and social networks before she vanished.

As of the one-year mark in April 2024, investigators stated they could not pinpoint the reason for Tara's disappearance and that it remained unclear whether she had experienced a mental health crisis, had been abducted, or had left under her own will. Captain Stefonek said she was not like other cases in terms of the absence of social connections and digital footprint that would ordinarily provide investigators with threads to pull.

At the three-year mark in April 2026, the Marathon County Sheriff's Office confirmed the investigation is still active. No significant developments have been reached. If you know anything about Tara Sullivan's whereabouts or the circumstances of her disappearance, investigators ask that you contact them directly.

Bring Tara Home

Help Find Tara

Tara Jane Sullivan has been missing since April 18, 2023. She would be 51 years old. Investigators with the Marathon County Sheriff's Office are asking anyone who knew Tara well, or had recent contact with her in the first two weeks of April through April 17, 2023, to contact them directly. Any information, however small, may be meaningful.

Tara is a white female, 5'7", 128 pounds, with green eyes. Her hair color may have changed and is unknown; she has been known to wear both blonde/strawberry hair and bright red hair. She was last seen in the Weston, Wisconsin area. Her car was found approximately 30 miles east along Old Highway 29 in Shawano County.

If you have seen Tara or believe you know her whereabouts, please call 911 immediately so that law enforcement can verify her safety. If you have information about the circumstances of her disappearance, please contact the Marathon County Sheriff's Office. Her father is in an assisted living facility. He wants to hear from her.

Marathon County Sheriff's Office
715-261-1200
Press option 5 to speak with an investigator — Reference: Tara Sullivan
If You See Tara — Call 911 Immediately
911
Law enforcement needs to verify her safety in person
NamUs — National Missing Person Database
Case MP104047
namus.nij.ojp.gov — Submit information directly
Shawano County Sheriff's Office
715-526-3111
Assisting agency — Old Hwy 29 vehicle location area
Sources
WSAW — Weston Woman's Disappearance Hits 1 Year Mark, April 18, 2024  |  WSAW — Forgotten Wisconsin Cold Cases: Tara Sullivan, May 2, 2024  |  WSAW — Investigators Continue to Search for Answers in Disappearance of Weston Woman, April 17, 2026  |  Heavy — Tara Jane Sullivan: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, 2023  |  Disappeared Blog — The Disappearance of Tara Sullivan  |  Charley Project — Tara Jane Sullivan  |  WIMissing — Tara Jane Sullivan  |  Marathon County Sheriff's Office — Facebook, April 18 and May 2023  |  NamUs — MP104047  |  International Missing Persons Wiki — Tara Sullivan
In Memoriam

She Is Not Forgotten

Tara Sullivan drove her car through her own garage door at seven o'clock on an April evening, or someone did, or something happened that made that necessary, and then she was gone. Her phone ended up on a dead-end road. Her car ended up thirty miles away with her purse and her keys inside. She was not in it. She has not been found in three years.

The facts of her life before she disappeared describe a woman who had grown quiet. She had let her real estate license lapse. She was not working. She took daily walks. She posted Scripture on social media. Her license plate quoted Matthew 6:33: seek first the kingdom of God. Her neighbors barely knew her name. The only person in regular contact with her was her father, and he had a stroke a few months after she vanished and now lives in a care facility waiting to hear her voice.

Captain Stefonek said in 2024 that Tara was not like other cases. He meant it as a description of the investigation; the absence of social connection, of digital footprint, of anything to pull on. But it is also true in a deeper sense. Tara Sullivan was a private person who lived a quiet life and kept her faith close and was someone's daughter and is still someone's daughter and has not been explained or accounted for or found.

If she is alive and watching this: her father wants to hear her voice. If someone knows what happened to her: the investigation is still open and the phone number at the Marathon County Sheriff's Office still works. Tara Jane Sullivan is not forgotten.

Tara Jane Sullivan — Missing Since April 18, 2023
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