Tracy Kulas - NY - BODY FOUND

[LadyBlue]

DEWITT, N.Y. (AP) — Police say the skeletal remains found near a suburban Syracuse shopping mall are those of a 30-year-old woman who was reported missing in 2005.


Police in DeWitt told local media outlets that Tracy Kulas was a married mother of three when she disappeared from an assisted living residence in Syracuse where she was living because of a medical condition.

Police say Friday there's no evidence her death was a crime, but they don't know how her body ended up near the mall.

A boy came across the bones Saturday afternoon as he explored the woods behind the ShoppingTown Mall.
auburnpub.com/news/local/state-and-regional/skeleton-found-in-central-ny-was-missing-woman/article_4676172e-74ec-11e1-ada7-001871e3ce6c.html

[LadyBlue]

Kulas was 30 years old when she was reported missing by the administration of Lincoln Elms, an assisted living center at 703 W. Onondaga St., Syracuse, DeWitt Police Chief Eugene J. Conway said.

The identity was made through dental records, Conway said. Located near the remains were personal items belonging to Kulas, including her driver's license, Conway said. A purse with personal items belonging to Kulas was also found at the scene.

Kulas was last seen March 16 getting into a black pickup truck outside the assisted living center, according to The Post-Standard archives. Staff at the living center could not see who was inside the truck, but were fairly certain no force was used to get Kulas into the truck. Detectives back then believed she met the person in an internet chat room.

Kulas had a bipolar mental illness and had been treated for mental disorders, police said at the time of her disappearance.

Kulas is the mother of three children, according to records. Her husband, Frank Kulas, of Kirkville, was estranged from his wife at the time of her disappearance. Frank Kulas could not be reached by phone today. The family was notified Thursday, Conway said.

The investigation has shifted from search and recovery of the remains to finding the manner and cause of death, which remains unknown at this time.

A 13-year-old boy exploring the woods east of ShoppingTown Mall on Saturday found the skeletal remains, Conway said. He praised the boy's "incredible maturity" in the discovery.

The boy, who is not being named, lived in the area and often explored the woods, Conway said. When the boy made the discovery, he did everything right, Conway said.

"On that day, he had the presence of mind to know that was not anything other than a human skull," Conway said.

He snapped a picture of the remains and emailed his mother, who called him home. Together, they went back to the scene and called police, Conway said.

"He did not disturb that scene at all," Conway said.

The mother directed police to the site, off Kinne Road and across from White Chapel Memory Gardens cemetery.

DeWitt police were assisted in the investigation by the Syracuse police, the county Medical Examiner's Office and the District Attorney's Office.

The bones were taken to the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office for analysis.

Police are asking that anyone who has any information on Kulas is asked to contact police at 632-0071.
www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/skeletal_remains_in_dewitt_are.html