On July 25, 2008, a shocking discovery was made in East Kingston, New York, that would leave both law enforcement and the public searching for answers. Police and firefighters responded to a report of a vehicle fire near the former Hudson Cement plant, just off Route 32. When they arrived, they found a gray 2004 Nissan pickup truck completely engulfed in flames. Inside the cab was the body of 56-year-old Michel Kleiman, whose identity would take two weeks to confirm.

A Quiet Life and a Shocking End

At the time of his death, Michel Kleiman was living a quiet life, dividing his time between his mother's house in Westchester and his home in rural Samsonville. Kleiman worked as a nurse’s aide at a facility for mentally ill children and enjoyed collecting Disney memorabilia, comic books, and antiques in his free time. Described by his brother as shy but friendly, Kleiman was also known to frequent area swimming holes.

However, his peaceful life was brutally interrupted, and the circumstances surrounding his death have remained a mystery. Investigators believe Kleiman was murdered elsewhere before his body was dumped in his truck, but no clear motive or suspect has ever emerged.

An Ongoing Investigation

Following the grisly discovery, police launched a full investigation. They combed through the woods and swamps near East Kingston and set up traffic checkpoints, speaking to over 200 people and chasing down 600 leads. At one point, the police reached out to the LGBTQ Center of the Hudson Valley, though no evidence emerged to suggest that Kleiman’s death was a hate crime. The police have explored many various avenues, including the possibility that Kleiman knew his killer.

The Public’s Help Needed

Now, almost seventeen years after his death, police are asking the public to assist in solving the case. They’re looking for anyone who might have unknowingly given Kleiman’s killer a ride on the afternoon of July 25, 2008, or anyone who exhibited strange behavior in the days following the murder.

Police have released details about the jewelry Kleiman was wearing at the time of his death. Among the items missing from the crime scene are a silver ring with a blue stone, a Rolex watch, a small diamond earring, and a silver horseshoe-shaped pinky ring. Investigators hope that these items might provide a crucial clue.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Town of Ulster Police Department at (845) 382-1111 or the anonymous tip line at (845) 336-3784. Tips can also be submitted online or by mail to 1 Town Hall Drive, Lake Katrine, NY 12449.

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