Found Deceased IL - Vanessa Ceja Ramirez, 22, murdered, Midlothian, 2 Nov 2020

[Yemelyan]

It has been a year since this murder took place. The silence in the case is because it is evidently a very active investigation. Vanessa's family is speaking out and say they are in close contact with LE. Very long new article at this link:

Family of Murdered 22-Year-Old Speaks Out a Year After Her Death

According to her family, Vanessa seemed to get tired and headed back to wait at the car without them. Her family never saw her again.

A massive police search tracked her cell to two different locations in nearby Oak Forest, an apartment complex and a school, but she wasn’t there. Vanessa’s’s body was found back at the forest preserve off the trail in the woods, in an area known to teenagers as a place to party and start fires. The medical examiner’s report indicated that she had been murdered, saying her body was partially burned. Her shoes were also missing, and she had been strangled with a ligature.

Cook County detectives have been tight lipped about their investigation, but the family said that they have kept in close contact with them.

NBC5 Investigates spoke with Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart about the case.

“We have multiple detectives working on the case actively and I know myself personally they have been running out recent leads, so this is an active case, “ Dart said.

 

[Yemelyan]

There is some interesting information contained in the video at this link (the article did not include this but it was part of the update on the news broadcast segment):

Family of Murdered 22-Year-Old Speaks Out a Year After Her Death

We already knew that Vanessa's phone pinged at the Manchester Court Apartments. The new information says that her phone also pinged at a school. Her body was found in Midlothian Meadows approximately across from Bremen Community High School but this is NOT the school where her phone apparently pinged. The news video shows it to be Jack Hille Middle School, which is a couple of miles away from Midlothian Meadows but "on the way" towards Manchester Court Apartments which is further to the north.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

There is some interesting information contained in the video at this link (the article did not include this but it was part of the update on the news broadcast segment):

Family of Murdered 22-Year-Old Speaks Out a Year After Her Death

We already knew that Vanessa's phone pinged at the Manchester Court Apartments. The new information says that her phone also pinged at a school. Her body was found in Midlothian Meadows approximately across from Bremen Community High School but this is NOT the school where her phone apparently pinged. The news video shows it to be Jack Hille Middle School, which is a couple of miles away from Midlothian Meadows but "on the way" towards Manchester Court Apartments which is further to the north.

That’s interesting. I don’t know what that particular community is like but is there any chance this involves gang activity?
Sorry if this has been discussed before, I’m a bit behind.

 

[Yemelyan]

That’s interesting. I don’t know what that particular community is like but is there any chance this involves gang activity?
Sorry if this has been discussed before, I’m a bit behind.

I don't know about gang activity specifically (maybe a local will chime in) but I'm getting kind of the same vibe that a group of individuals, perhaps young, could be involved...for the things we know about the murder, school locations and places where youths were known to party and drink seem to stick out to me.

 

[Charlot123]

I don't know about gang activity specifically (maybe a local will chime in) but I'm getting kind of the same vibe that a group of individuals, perhaps young, could be involved...for the things we know about the murder, school locations and places where youths were known to party and drink seem to stick out to me.

As in some other known cases, this happened very fast. I hope he/they will be apprehended soon.

 

[Knox]

Thank you for the updates @Yemelyan. I hope the investigators find answers soon.

 

[Userid]

That’s interesting. I don’t know what that particular community is like but is there any chance this involves gang activity?
Sorry if this has been discussed before, I’m a bit behind.

Doubtful. Midlothian isn't the ideal suburb by any means, but it isn't rife with gang activity either. Anything is possible of course, and I wouldn't be a surprised if someone in a gang lives in Midlothian, but the area itself, including the forest preserve, isn't a known gang area with gang activity.

That said, it almost does sound like this was done by a group of teens. Perhaps not necessarily a "gang" in the traditional sense, but simply a group.

 

[pixiepixel]

As time goes by it’s hard to believe how little progress seems to have been made and especially how little interest there is in this case. It seems to be one of those rare cases of a stranger crime, and as someone who spends a lot of time in public parks, what happened to Vanessa is a nightmare of mine. I pray that Justice will be done soon.

 

[Knox]

I checked for an update in MSM, found nothing more current than the 11/2021 article? Any locals in this thread?

 

[Userid]

I checked for an update in MSM, found nothing more current than the 11/2021 article? Any locals in this thread?

Yes. Nothing unfortunately. Maybe local news will revisit in November, which will be the 2 year anniversary.

 

[Knox]

Yes. Nothing unfortunately. Maybe local news will revisit in November, which will be the 2 year anniversary.

Thank you for responding. How awful this is for her family.

 

[Userid]

Thank you for responding. How awful this is for her family.

No problem. I will try to respond if I hear anything. Today, the breaking news in the area was about the Delphi murders and the fact that an arrest was made after 5 years. I mentioned earlier in this thread that this case reminded me of VR's, since it took place in a forest preserve, albeit in Indiana. Anyways, that does provide some hope here. Just because a story isn't in the news doesn't necessarily mean that it is a cold case.

 

[Serdavc]

For those of you that have wondered if Vanessa’s case could possibly be the work of a serial killer:

I stumbled on this case out of Hammond, Indiana.

ALEXANDRA (ALEX) ANAYA | Federal Bureau of Investigation

Murder Victim Hammond, Indiana August 13, 2005

www.fbi.gov

Here is the link to the websleuths sub on Alex Anaya.

IN - IN - Alexandra Anaya, 13, Hammond, 13 Aug 2005

Alexandra Anaya, 13 years old missing since August 13, 2005. DNA confirms. The family is hoping more remains will be found before making the final arrangements. A person of interest is being questioned. www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=3826867

www.websleuths.com

I realize that Vanessa was 22 and Alex was 13 at the time of their murders. I also realize that 15 years separates these two cases.

However I was struck how close Hammond, Indiana and Harvey, Illinois are to one another. The two towns are only 20 minutes apart.

I was also struck by that fact that both cases were described as brutal, involved torture, SA, and of course how similar both Alex and Vanessa are to one another in appearance.

Hoping for Justice for both Vanessa and Alex.

 

[Linskid]

Bump

 

[cvaldez1975]

Bump

i cant believe nothing.

 

[cnmccarthy]

Bump

 

[Yemelyan]

I wish there was some kind of update on this case. I would love to know the current theory that investigators have of exactly how this murder occurred.

 

[momsof3]

I wish there was some kind of update on this case. I would love to know the current theory that investigators have of exactly how this murder occurred.

I saw your post and thought "I hope something happened!" Nope. The family needs to get a dogged podcaster on this, I really feel it is being ignored. I am heart-broken for Vanessa's family.

 

[Yemelyan]

I saw your post and thought "I hope something happened!" Nope. The family needs to get a dogged podcaster on this, I really feel it is being ignored. I am heart-broken for Vanessa's family.

Sorry to get your hopes up and then dash them. This has just been on my mind lately. Some other recent cases where women went for walks on trails/parks and were attacked makes me dwell on this one.

There appears to be a lot of evidence in this case, not just physical (the bindings, the burning) but even technical evidence like the movements of her phone after the crime. I still wonder if these were multiple offenders and possibly younger (high school age?).

 

[K9Enzo]

I thought this was going to have a resolution fast. It’s a weird and horrific case that seems to have happened in a small window of time.

She’s on a walk with her family, departs to go back to the car, then is found murdered/burned.