UPDATE: 9/01/23 2:45 p.m. -- New York State Police announced on Friday, September 1st that an 11th person has been arrested in connection to the alleged kidnapping of an Ithaca man who was later killed. Kysha Radcliff, age 39, of Dryden has been charged with kidnapping in the first degree. According to police, Thomas Rath went missing from the Jungle over three month ago. His body was discovered in Candor. 

For the original story, along with the list of the other people charged in the case, please see below. 

DRYDEN, N.Y. (WENY) -- Monday, August 28th marked the 100th day since Thomas Rath went missing from a homeless encampment known as "The Jungle" in Ithaca. On Monday, New York State Police gave an update and brief timeline during a press conference of what happened to Rath from his disappearance in May of 2023 to now.

"As this missing person case evolved, it revealed a particularly disturbing and heinous series of events, which ultimately revealed the kidnapping and murder of Mr. Rath," said Major Jeffrey VanAuken, NYSP Troop C Commander.

Major VanAuken said the search for Rath spanned Tompkins and Tioga County and even into Maine.

Captain Lucas Anthony with the Troop C Bureau of Criminal Investigations provided a brief timeline of events with limited information.

"On May 20th, Mr. Rath was abducted from his encampment in the city of Ithaca. The Ithaca Police Department received a check the welfare complaint on that date, and the investigation was initiated," said Capt. Anthony. "On May 26th, a little more information was received that indicated Mr. Rath’s disappearance was a result of suspicious circumstances."

According to police, on May 31st they received information saying Rath had at one point been inside a home located at 70 Benjamin Hill Road in the town of Newfield.

"A search warrant was executed for that location on that day [and] on June 2nd, just two days later a large-scale foot search was conducted in the area surrounding 70 Benjamin Hill. This involved over 80 police officers as well as volunteers from the Tompkins and Tioga [County, N.Y.] search and rescue teams," said Capt. Anthony.

Police said in the days and weeks following the search over 40 search warrants were executed in various locations until authorities made a significant development in the case in early August.

"[A] significant development occurred on August 3rd. Mr. Rath’s remains were located on state lands in the town of Candor, in Tioga County, buried in a shallow grave," said Capt. Anthony.

Police said they began arresting people on August 16th, with ten people currently behind bars. Police also said Rath's abduction and murder weren't a random act, and that he knew the people who abducted and killed him.

"These individuals were all familiar with each other. I wouldn’t go as far to say it was an orchestrated event, but it was an ongoing event from start to finish," said Capt. Anthony.

A total of ten people were arrested, and more arrests are expected. They include:

Angelo Baez, age 48 of Ithaca, NY

  • Murder in the second degree, class “A” felony
  • Kidnapping in the first degree, class “A” felony

Jonathan Glennon, age 31 of Ithaca, NY (currently at Androscoggin Jail, Maine)

  • Murder in the second degree, class “A” felony

Colleen E. Dillon, age 31 of Newfield, NY

  • Kidnapping in the first degree, class “A” felony

Zayne G. Burlingame, age 30 of Ithaca, NY

  • Kidnapping in the first degree, class “A” felony

Mark F. Beatty, age 35 of Ithaca, NY

  • Kidnapping in the first degree, class “A” felony

Robert W. Hines, age 52 of Candor, NY

  • Kidnapping in the first degree, class “A” felony

Neraida A. Sobrado-Torres, age 43 of Ithaca

  • Kidnapping in the first degree, class “A” felony

Jack J. Benjamin Jr., age 39 of Ithaca, NY

  • Kidnapping in the first degree, class “A” felony

Brelynn B. Vorrasi, age 27 of Lodi, NY

  • Kidnapping in the first degree, class “A” felony

Justin M. Knapp, age 36 of Ithaca, NY

  • Kidnapping in the first degree, class “A” felony

A motive was not given as the investigation is still on-going.  Anyone with any information is still asked to call New York State Police Major Crimes at (607)561-7400.