Body In Forest Preserve IDed As Vanessa Ramirez

MIDLOTHIAN, IL — The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the body found in Midlothian Meadows Preserve is 22-year-old Vanessa Ceja Ramirez of Harvey. Ramirez went missing after going for a walk with her mother and a friend on Monday, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

"The Cook County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation after a body was found in the Midlothian Meadows," the sheriff's office said in a statement Wednesday evening. The sheriff's office did not confirm the identity of the body at the time, adding only, "the investigation is ongoing."

ABC7 reported that police, helicopters and dogs were dispatched to the location, and the dogs picked up Vanessa's scent at 151st and Pulaski, near the location of her cellphone's last ping. ABC said this led investigators to an apartment building only two miles away in Oak Forest, but nothing was found there.

Ramirez went missing after taking a walk with her mother through a forest preserve in Midlothian, according to her family. The Harvey woman was last seen Nov. 2, her family said.

Ramirez was walking with her mother and a friend at 4 p.m. Monday at the Midlothian Meadows Forest Preserve when she decided to go back to her car, not wanting to walk any further down the trail, her family said. Ramirez's phone was turned off, and she had no transportation, money or food, according to her relatives.

Community members gathered to search for Ramirez Wednesday afternoon. Resident Kelly Rapp posted in a Midlothian Facebook group asking volunteers to meet at the forest preserve entrance on Crawford Avenue north of 159th Street at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

"I don't know her personally, but when I had heard I couldn't believe there wasn't a search party yet," Rapp told Patch. "I wanted to get involved because I pray that if this ever happened to one of my children the community would come together to help as well."

Ramirez's family member did not want their name published, but said the family has a private investigator searching with them. They also said there will be a vigil held some time Wednesday evening at St. Johns Church in Harvey.

"We just want to know she's okay," they said.

The sheriff's office said there is no further information at this time.

Anyone who has information is asked to call the Midlothian Police Department at 708-385-2534.