Police Searching For Missing Mentally Ill Woman

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago police were asking for the public's help in finding a missing 19-year-old woman who is mentally ill.

Lakariah Thompson left her home at 8531 S. Crandon Av. on Tuesday and hasn't been seen since. She suffers from schizophrenia and is without her medication and Chicago police said she has recently experienced lapses in her short-term memory.

Police said she apparently left home to avoid a doctor's appointment, but her mother said Thompson did not run away.

Thompson's mother, Cecilia McIntosh, said her daughter is forgetful and might have left through her bedroom window and wandered off, unaware of her surroundings or how to get back home.

McIntosh said her daughter has never done anything like this before.

Thompson is described as a 19-year-old black woman, 5-foot-9, 260 pounds. She was last seen wearing a green wool hat, green puffy coat, blue jeans and black gym shoes.

Police said she is known to frequent the area of 79th and Eberhart.

McIntosh said she is offering a $1,000 reward for her daughter's safe return.