The search for a Country Club Hills woman with dementia reached a somber conclusion this weekend. Yolanda Howell, 78, was found dead on Saturday in a Cook County forest preserve, 11 days after she was reported missing. According to Chicago Sun-Times, Howell was last seen near her home area, at the intersection of 187th Street and Cedar Avenue. An anonymous tip on Friday night eventually leading, law enforcement to the location where her body was discovered.
The City of Country Club Hills Police Chief, Michael Wilson, detailed at a news conference how initial searches after her disappearance were unfruitful, but the tip off precipitated a more targeted search, which led to the tragic find. As reported by WGN-TV, Ring camera footage adjusted the timeline of her disappearance to October 8. They also shared Claudette Edwards, Howell's daughter's heartfelt plea earlier in the week stating, "I am desperately looking for my mother," she even added, "We have no idea where she is. I'm scared, because she is suffering from dementia."
Various agencies, including the Chicago police and the Lake County Sheriff's Department, had been involved in the effort to locate Howell, employing resources from drones to divers in hopes of bringing her back safely. Police have stated that there is no suspicion of foul play in Howell's death, but the circumstances leading to her demise are still under investigation.
Autopsy results from the Cook County medical examiner's office are pending to provide further insight into the cause of death. While Howell's family, and a team of volunteers gathered on Saturday in hopes of progress, the search was halted when the Country Club Hills Police Department Search and Rescue Drone discovered the body. No further details regarding Howell's passing have been provided.
