Hunter's family offering reward for his killer's conviction

WARWICK-The family of Timothy Mania is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who killed him. Mania is the Warwick hunter who left his home on Birdsall Road last November 23 to go deer hunting and never returned. His wife, Janet, called police later that day when Mania did not return. His body was found the next morning with a single gunshot wound to his back. Lieutenant Keith Corlett of the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigations in Middletown, said his office continues to follow leads on the case, which are fewer now than they were six weeks ago. No arrests have been made and no suspects have been named. One person was questioned early on, Corlett said, but later released. "This is still an active case," Corlett said. "Our case agents go back and recheck leads but we haven't come up with anything yet." At the time of the killing, the police issued three search warrants but would not comment on where the warrants were served. The killing has not been considered an accident and suicide was ruled out quickly since the bullet was not from Mania's gun. Most hunting accidents are reported immediately, Corlett added. Even the posters, which have been hanging around town for over a week now, have not generated a flood of leads, according to Corlett, who has not lost his resolve in solving this case. "The case is never closed," Corlett stated, "until there is an arrest." Anyone with information in the Timothy Mania killing is urged to call the New York State Police at (845) 782-8311.