Loyal Son Meets Tragic End

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Michael Kleiman visited his mother Bella every weekend until someone murdered him and dumped his remains in East Kingston, N.Y.

Michael Kleiman was a creature of habit and never missed a weekly visit with his mother Bella. But on July 25, 2008, Michael never showed up. When police arrived the next day to her house in Bronxville, to take a DNA comparison, everyone knew something catastrophic had occurred.

On July 25, around 2:30 p.m., the East Kingston Fire Department responded to a smoke sighting on a remote access road just off of Route 32. The access road leads to a local quarry, or swimming hole, people in the tri-county area frequent. Halfway down the dirt road, firefighters discovered a Nissan pickup truck ablaze. After extinguishing the flames, firefighters made a dreadful discovery: a dismembered corpse lay smoldering in the back seat.

Crime scene investigators immediately reported to the scene, declaring it a murder investigation. Detectives soon discovered the truck belonged to Michael Kleiman, but the body inside the cab could not be identified; it was burned far beyond recognition, and both the head and the hands had been severed from the body.

Detectives don’t know much about who did this, but they believe the murderer is very familiar with the area -- specifically the dump site. The access road where the truck was abandoned and burned is in a very discrete location. The side of the old roadway from where the murderer entered is covered by thick brush and fallen trees. Beyond the obstacles, the road is hidden.

The murderer drove through a locked gate and through the shrubbery and fallen trees that hid the old access road. The truck was also parked perfectly halfway down the road. Police believe this is because the access road leads to Route 32, where the other entrance is. Police say the murderer knew exactly where to dump the truck and the dismembered body to avoid a hasty discovery.

Michael’s murder remains unsolved, but detectives have made significant progress considering all the obstacles.

Several factors contribute to the difficulties surrounding this murder investigation. For example, the manner in which Michael lived his life. In more ways than not, Michael lead the life of a hermit. He lived in the woods of Kerhonkson, N.Y. He didn’t own a cell phone or a computer and therefore didn’t have a use for Internet at home. He scarcely used a credit card, almost always paying with cash.

The technological tools that most people use on a daily basis play a huge role in solving a murder investigation. Without access to information, such as cell phone logs, e-mail accounts and credit card statements, detectives cannot determine Michael’s behavioral patterns. But worse, there is a huge void in the timeline leading up to Michael’s demise that police have no way of filling.

A 23-Hour Window

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Michael Kleiman lived a secluded life in the woods of Kerhonkson, N.Y., until he was murdered sometime between July 24 and July 25, 2008.

Michael spent the weekdays doing whatever he pleased, and that’s why he worked two grueling double-shifts every weekend at the Stony Lodge Hospital in Ossining, N.Y. Monday through Friday, Michael filled his time pursuing hobbies and activities he enjoyed.

Police cannot determine exactly what Michael did during the week leading up to his murder, but they are sure of a couple things.

First, investigators are working with a 23-hour window: Michael was murdered sometime between 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 24and 2:30 p.m. Friday, July 25.

On Thursday, July 24 Michael was about to leave home when he discovered his truck’s battery was dead. Stranded and isolated in the woods, Michael called AAA at 1:44 p.m. to report the problem. The AAA technician arrived at Michael’s home around 2:30 p.m. and fixed the truck’s battery. Michael left his home shortly after, starting the 23-hour window.

Aside from the AAA technician, who detectives interviewed extensively, there are no other sources that can even allude to Michael’s whereabouts or actions throughout the rest of the day.

Michael usually attended a nearby antique auction every Thursday, where he bought and sold old furnishings. His Kerhonkson home was a hoarder’s dream come true, piled ceiling-high with antiques and collectables he acquired over the years. However, on this particular week, there was no auction scheduled. So where did Michael go? How did he spend the rest of the day? And the questions puzzling detectives most: Who did Michael meet, and why did this person want him dead?

Michael's Secretive Side

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This silver horseshoe-shaped pinky ring -- which Michael wore on his left index finger -- has never been recovered. Police believe the killer may have taken it.

What exactly happened to Michael and who is responsible for the heinous crime still puzzles detectives to this day. Due to the lack of available resources, detectives are using victimology — learning Michael’s habits and tendencies to the best of their ability in hopes they will be able to better determine what might have happened to him.

Looking into Michael’s life, detectives found no reasons why anyone would want him dead. He didn’t own anyone money. He didn’t gamble. He didn’t abuse drugs or alcohol. His family loved him, and his coworkers respected and praised him. There is no obvious reason for Michael’s death.

Digging deeper into the facets of Michael’s life, detectives discovered a secret lifestyle Michael sometimes pursued. Friends, family and police all knew Michael was gay — this was no secret. But in an effort to meet other men, Michael occasionally visited adult video stores in Middletown, N.Y., that homosexuals are known to frequent. Police believe there is a very good chance this is where Michael may have met his murderer. Unfortunately, due to the extreme discretion associated with this type of rendezvous, no one will come forward and speak with police — especially gay or bisexual men who may have known Michael or even his killer.

Considering this secretive lifestyle, police hope anyone with information regarding Michael’s terrible misfortune will call America’s Most Wanted Hotline — you can always remain anonymous.

Cops: The Public Needs To Come Forward

Police need your help to kick start this investigation. According to police, the murderer, whoever that person might be, is familiar with the tri-county area but not necessarily living there. The killer may have lived in the area as a child or for a brief amount of time at some point before moving elsewhere.

Taking this into consideration, police ask the public to think back to the week of Michael’s murder. Do you recall anyone you know acting especially strange or displaying odd behavior such as: unscheduled absence from work, missing scheduled appointments, abrupt departure from the area (either temporarily or permanently), increased use of drugs or alcohol, or an abnormal interest in the progression of the Kleiman murder investigation. These are all signs police say might help them catch Michael’s killer.

If you know anything about Michael’s whereabouts during that 23-hour window, his killer or anything that might help detectives get the ball rolling on this case, call our Hotline at 1-800-CRIME-TV. Remember: You can always stay anonymous.