10 people arrested in connection with Ithaca kidnapping, murder

Ten people have been arrested in connection to the alleged kidnapping and murder of Thomas P. Rath, New York State Police and the Ithaca Police Department said Monday in a statement.

Police said Rath was forcibly kidnapped from the “Jungle,” a natural area behind Lowes in the city of Ithaca, then murdered. 

“On May 20, 2023, Rath was forcibly abducted from his encampment in the natural area behind Lowes in the city of Ithaca, known as the ‘Jungle,'” State Police Troop C Commander, Major Jeffrey VanAuken said in a statement. “On that day the Ithaca City Police Department received a call to ‘check the welfare.’  At that point, an investigation was initiated with very limited information. “

The arrests started August 16 and continued through August 24, police said.

Those charged include:

• Angelo Baez, 48, of Ithaca, charged with second-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping
• Jonathan Glennon, 31, (currently at Androscoggin Jail, Maine), charged with second-degree murder
• Colleen E. Dillon, 31, of Newfield, charged with first-degree kidnapping
• Zayne G. Burlingame, 30, of Ithaca, charged with first-degree kidnapping
• Mark F. Beatty, 35, of Ithaca, charged with first-degree kidnapping
• Robert W. Hines, 52 of Candor charged with first-degree kidnapping
• Neraida A. Sobrado-Torres, 43, of Ithaca, charged with first-degree kidnapping
• Jack J. Benjamin Jr., 39, of Ithaca, charged with first-degree kidnapping
• Brelynn B. Vorrasi, 27 of Lodi, charged with first-degree kidnapping
• Justin M. Knapp, 36, of Ithaca, charged with first-degree kidnapping
• State police say more arrests related to the incident are pending and will occur in the following weeks.

Police timeline

On May 26, Investigators received information that determined Rath’s disappearance was a result of suspicious circumstances, and Ithaca City Police requested and received assistance from the New York State Police.

Five days later, police said they were told Rath had been at a residence located at 70 Benjamin Hill Road in the town…