Missing Jogger's Throat Was Slashed - Autopsy Shows

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Missing jogger's throat was slashed, autopsy shows

chicagotribune.com - Matthew Walberg | October 31, 2007

A missing Chicago Heights woman whose body was found in a south suburban forest preserve lake was beaten on the head and her throat was slashed, according to an autopsy Wednesday.

Alma Mendez, 39, of the 300 block of West 14th Place died of multiple injuries, physical assault and multiple incisions on her neck, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Mendez's relatives had reported her missing Sunday night after she did not return from a jog in the Sauk Trail Woods Forest Preserve near South Chicago Heights, a place where she ran almost daily. Searchers combed the woods until Tuesday afternoon, when her body was found floating near the bank of the lake, just yards from the jogging path. — continued: »

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-mendez_webnov01,0,1885736.story?coll=chi_home_util

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Autopsy: Body With Slit Throat Found in Forest Preserve Believed to Be Missing Chicago Mom

foxnews.com - November 01, 2007

A woman's body found in a suburban Chicago forest preserve lake is believed to be that of a missing mother of three who disappeared on a daily jog was a victim of assault, according to autopsy results.

The medical examiner's office ruled the death a homicide and results showed that the the woman's throat was cut multiple times.

Police believe the body is Alma Mendez, 39, was last heard from on Sunday at about 2 p.m. when she left a friend a voicemail saying she had something important to talk about. — continued: »

http://i2.tinypic.com/5zfbskm.gif » Watch the video report from myFOXChicago.com.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307240,00.html

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Family Identifies Body Of Missing Woman

Autopsy Reveals Alma Mendez Victim Of Assault

cbs2chicago.com - Oct 31, 2007

SOUTH CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill. (CBS) ― Family members of a missing woman have identified a body found in a forest preserve lake as that of Alma Mendez.

An autopsy Wednesday revealed Mendez died from a vicious assault. Her head was badly beaten, and her throat was slashed. Authorities tell WBBM Newsradio 780 her left ankle had also been fractured. Mendez' body was fully clothed when it was discovered. In fact, preliminary identification Tuesday was made from those clothes.

Cook County Sheriff's Police have ruled her death a homicide. Wednesday, they were back searching for evidence at the scene where her body was found one day earlier. — continued: »

http://i13.tinypic.com/67spdf9.jpg
Alma Mendez. - CBS

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/joggers.body.autopsy.2.479040.html

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Slain woman was good friend, mother

dailysouthtown.com - Shenequa A. Golding - November 1, 2007

According to Star Garcia, 38-year-old Alma Mendez was more than a best friend. She was the kind of women who was willing to do whatever it took for the ones she loved.

"She would turn over backward for you," Garcia said. — continued: »

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/630433,110107joggerfolo.article

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Body in lake identified as missing mom of 3

suntimes.com - MAUDLYNE IHEJIRIKA - November 1, 2007

When Alma Mendez went for a run Sunday in the Sauk Trail Woods Forest Preserve, it was something she'd done often enough.

But this time, death awaited her. — continued: »

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/630812,CST-NWS-jogger01.article