The Mysterious Disappearance of Tina Raye Wilson: A Decade-Old Puzzle



On April 18, 2005, Tina Raye Wilson made a phone call to her local rental store.

She wanted them to pick up a Television she had rented.

Sadly, that call would be the last time anyone heard from the 43-year-old Ohio woman. 

Tina Raye Wilson mysteriously vanished without a trace, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions.

Where is Tina Raye Wilson? 

And what happened to her on that fateful day? 

A Quiet Life in Whitehall, Ohio

Tina Raye Wilson lived in Whitehall, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, at the time of her disappearance. 

Whitehall has a population of over 20,000 and is located just six miles from the lively city of Columbus.

Tina Raye Wilson lived alone and managed her life independently.

However, it was noted that she had some health issues, though the specifics remain unclear.

Despite her health condition, Tina worked at a local Wendy's fast-food restaurant, where she was loved by her coworkers.

She was known for being reliable and hardworking, so her absence from work was immediately noticed. 

According to her colleagues, Tina was never one to miss a shift without notifying management. 



The Disappearance: One Last Call

On the morning of April 18, 2005, Tina Raye Wilson made a routine call to the rental store. 

She requested that they come and pick up the Television she had rented.

When the rental store employees arrived at her apartment later that day, they found no one home.

Additionally, the Television was gone. 

This was the first sign that something was wrong.

Tina’s absence from work raised further alarms. 

Her coworkers, knowing her as dependable, became concerned when she didn’t show up for her shift. 

After no one was able to reach Tina Raye Wilson, she was officially reported missing by her mother three weeks later.

The Investigation: A Missing Woman and Missing Clues

When the police began their investigation, they soon realized they were at a significant disadvantage.

Three weeks had already passed since Tina's last contact, and valuable time had been lost.

They searched her apartment but found no signs of a struggle or forced entry.

However, what was discovered raised more questions than answers.

The TV Tina had rented was missing, but her purse, wallet, and other personal belongings were still in the apartment. 

Her pet cat, which she was known to care deeply for, was also gone. 

But what stood out the most were the strange items found in her home.

Police found a clean knife on her bed, books on witchcraft, cards, and a burned candle. 

Tina Raye Wilson practiced Wicca, a modern form of the Pagan religion, and some of her friends confirmed that she had an interest in witchcraft.

Wicca is a spiritual practice focused on nature and does not involve harmful rituals.

Despite these strange clues, there was no clear indication of where Tina might have gone or what had happened to her.



TheoriesWas Tina a Victim of Foul Play?


1) Foul Play

With no signs of a struggle, foul play appeared unlikely at first.

But the disappearance of both the TV and her cat left investigators puzzled. 

Why would someone take only those items and nothing else? 

Did she leave of her own free will, or was she taken against her will?

2) Victim of a serial killer

In 2017, serial killer Shawn Grate, who was already in prison for the murders of several women, made a chilling confession. 

Grate claimed that in 2005, he had killed a woman whose name he couldn’t remember.

He only recalled that the person might have been Dana or Diane. 

He said he discarded her remains in Marion County, Ohio, just north of Whitehall. 

The remains had indeed been discovered in 2007, but they had never been identified. 

A composite sketch of the unidentified woman was created, and it bore a striking resemblance to Tina Raye Wilson. 

For a moment, it seemed as though the mystery of Tina’s disappearance might finally be solved.

But when DNA testing was conducted, it ruled out any connection between Tina and the remains found in Marion County. 

The promising lead evaporated, and the search for Tina continued.

3) Voluntary Disappearance 

Some people thought Tina might have disappeared willingly. 

They believed so because of her religious beliefs. 

However, her friends and loved ones have dismissed this theory.

They believed she wouldn't just leave without informing anyone. 

Her colleagues noted that she would never miss a shift, let alone a whole week, without notice. 

Additionally, Tina did not collect her last paycheck from Wendy's.

She would definitely need money for her basic needs even if she wanted to disappear voluntarily.


Ongoing Efforts and a Call For Help

As of today, there have been no further developments in the case of Tina Raye Wilson. 

Her social security number and driver’s license have shown no activity since her disappearance.

This means that if she is still alive, she has been living off the grid.

The questions surrounding her case continue to haunt those who knew her. 

What could have led Tina Raye Wilson to vanish so suddenly and completely?

Tina Raye Wilson’s disappearance remains one of Ohio’s most perplexing cold cases. 

With so little evidence and no clear suspects, her case has grown colder with each passing year. 

But it’s not too late for answers. 

Tina was 43 when she vanished, and if alive today, she would be 62 years old. 

She is described as being 5’8”, weighing around 140 pounds, with red hair and blue eyes. 

She has distinctive tattoos: a flower on each breast and a black panther on her right shoulder.

If you or anyone you know has information that could help solve the mystery of Tina Raye Wilson’s disappearance, you are urged to contact the Whitehall Police Department at 614-237-6333. 

Any piece of information, no matter how small, could bring closure to a family that has been waiting for answers for nearly two decades.



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