Tara Sullivan

Case Information:

Tara Sullivan, a 47-year-old former real estate professional, vanished under highly unusual circumstances from her home in Weston, Wisconsin, on April 11, 2023. The investigation into her whereabouts began nearly a week later when a passerby discovered her functional iPhone at the terminus of Ringle Avenue and surrendered it to local authorities.

When deputies attempted to return the device to her residence, they discovered a scene that suggested a sudden, possibly forced departure. While the interior of the home appeared undisturbed, the garage door had sustained significant structural damage, appearing as though a vehicle had been driven through it from the inside.

Circumstances of Disappearance:

The timeline of Tara’s disappearance is marked by a series of geographical anomalies. On the same afternoon that police visited her home, her white 2017 Buick Enclave was located abandoned on Old Highway 29 in Shawano County, approximately thirty miles east of her residence.

Notably, the vehicle was found intact and in working order, with ample fuel and no immediate signs of a struggle or foul play within the cabin. Therefore, the discovery of her purse, driver’s license, wallet, credit cards, and keys still inside the abandoned SUV has led investigators to treat her disappearance as highly suspicious and “out of character.”

The Professional Transition:

In the years leading up to 2023, Tara had experienced a significant shift in her professional life. Notably, she had been a licensed real estate agent but chose not to renew her credentials in 2022, transitioning instead into real estate photography for local realtors. During this period, she lived alone in a rented duplex and was described by neighbors as a private individual who largely kept to herself.

While her father reportedly assisted with her financial obligations during this career transition, there were no documented reports of domestic disputes or external threats. Consequently, detectives have focused on her professional contacts and digital footprint to determine if a recent interaction preceded her vanishing.

Vehicle & Plate Information:

A central component of the ongoing search is the specific identification of Tara’s vehicle. Notably, her white 2017 Buick Enclave bore a highly unique custom Wisconsin license plate: MAT6 33, a reference to the biblical verse Matthew 6:33.

The fact that the vehicle was left on the shoulder of a highway with all her essential survival items—money, identification, and keys—suggests that Tara either left the vehicle under duress or was picked up by another party. Therefore, authorities in both Marathon County and Shawano County have spent years analyzing highway surveillance and “Flock” camera data to determine if another vehicle was traveling in tandem with the Buick on April 18.

Digital & Physical Evidence:

The recovery of Tara’s iPhone a week after she was last seen provided a critical, yet baffling, digital starting point. Notably, the phone was in working condition when found at the dead end of Ringle Avenue, suggesting it had either been dropped or intentionally discarded days after she left her home.

While forensic experts have reviewed the device’s location history and communication logs, they have not publicly released any data indicating she was being stalked or harassed. As a result, the “gap” between her last sighting on April 11 and the discovery of her phone and car on April 18 remains the primary focus of the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office.

Search & Investigative Efforts:

Since 2023, multiple large-scale searches have been conducted across the wooded areas of Shawano and Marathon Counties. Notably, renewed investigative efforts in early 2024 and late 2025 utilized advanced drone technology and K9 units trained in human remains detection, yet no physical evidence of Tara Sullivan has been recovered.

Investigators have also conducted “line searches” near the site where the Buick was abandoned, looking for discarded clothing or electronic accessories. Ultimately, the lack of a “scent trail” or physical struggle at either the home or the vehicle has left the case in a state of investigative limbo.

Physical Description:

Tara Sullivan was 47 years old at the time of her disappearance, described as a Caucasian female with a focused and professional demeanor. Significantly, she maintained a relatively quiet social profile, which has made it difficult for investigators to reconstruct her final movements through witness statements.

At the time she vanished, she was likely traveling alone, though it is unclear what clothing she was wearing due to the lack of witnesses at her residence. In addition, her height, weight, and distinctive features have been logged into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) to assist in cross-jurisdictional identification.

Community Vigilance:

The Weston and Shawano communities have remained active in keeping Tara Sullivan’s case visible through social media and local “Missing” flyers. Notably, community-led leads have periodically surfaced, prompting investigators to re-examine specific geographic areas near Old Highway 29.

There is a persistent hope among her family and former colleagues that someone may have captured her vehicle on a dashcam or residential security system during its 30-mile journey eastward. Consequently, the public’s role in identifying the “missing link” between the damaged garage door and the abandoned SUV remains vital.

Case Information:

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Tara Sullivan, or if you witnessed a white Buick Enclave with the license plate MAT6 33 on or around April 18, 2023, please contact the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office at 715‑261‑1200.

You may also provide anonymous tips through the Marathon County Crime Stoppers program. No detail is too small, and your information could provide the definitive breakthrough this family has been waiting for since 2023.

---