Illinois woman, 22, raped, strangled and set on fire in forest preserve: authorities
The body of Vanessa Ceja-Ramirez was found 2 days after being reported missing
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A young woman who disappeared in an Illinois forest preserve was found dead, and authorities say she had been raped, beaten, strangled and set on fire, according to reports.
Vanessa Ceja-Ramirez, 22, was reported missing Monday after going for walk with her mother and a friend in the Midlothian Meadows Forest Preserve, Fox 32 Chicago reported.
Her body was found Wednesday and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a homicide saying the cause was "asphyxia due to ligature strangulation."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Vanessa Ceja-Ramirez, 22, was reported missing Monday after visiting an Illinois forest preserve. Her body was found two days later.
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Volunteers joined the search for Ceja-Ramirez.
"She was beaten, partially burned and someone intercepted her, and possibly pulled her into a wooded area and basically tortured her," community activist Andrew Holmes told the station.
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He distributed flyers announcing a $2,000 reward for tips leading to an arrest.
Authorities said Ceja-Ramirez told her mother and the friend that she was tired and would meet them back at the car.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}They called police after finding some of her clothes but not her, the station reported.
After the disappearance, Ceja-Ramirez's phone pinged at a apartment complex in Oak Forest, an address 3 miles from the preserve, according to the station.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The homicide had been assigned to the Cook County Sheriff's Office.