Harvey Woman Was Strangled, Burned And Tortured: Reports

MIDLOTHIAN, IL — The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said the 22-year-old Harvey woman who was found dead in a Midlothian forest preserve was strangled. Her death has been ruled a homicide, and authorities reportedly said she was sexually assaulted, strangled and partially burned.

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

"She was beat, partially burned and her hands were tied up. Someone got to her, and possibly pulled her into a wooded area. She was basically tortured," community activist Andrew Holmes told Patch.

Holmes said fliers are being passed out and a $2,000 reward was brought up in the hopes of having someone come forward. The activist said a 24-hour call center for anonymous tips can be reached at 1 (800)- 883-5587, and he encourages anyone with information to call.

The Cook County Sheriff's Office said Ramirez's body was found in a wooded area in the Midlothian preserve. A death investigation followed, according to the sheriff.

The Harvey woman was last seen Nov. 2, according to authorities. After she disappeared, Fox Chicago reported that her phone pinged in the 147th block of Central Avenue at an apartment complex in Oak Forest, three miles away from the preserve.

Ramirez was walking with her mother and a friend around 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.

The sheriff's office said with assistance of the Cook County Forest Preserve District Police and other local law enforcement agencies, authorities searched the forest preserve on Monday evening. A sheriff’s police K9 unit was able to detect a scent trail, but the trail dissipated and the search was unsuccessful, according to the sheriff's office.

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 members took to social media after her body was found.

A GoFundMe was set up to help cover the costs of Ramirez's funeral, as well as a memorial to honor her life.

The sheriff's office said the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about Ramirez's disappearance or death are asked to please contact sheriff’s police detectives by calling 708-865-4896 or via email at detective.division@cookcountyil.gov.

Check back with Patch for updates on this developing story.