Head Found Two Months Ago In McKinley Park Lagoon Identified As Chicago Woman
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A head discovered nearly two months ago in the McKinley Park lagoon on the Southwest Side has been identified as a Chicago woman.
On Sept. 23, a Chicago Park District worker found around 10 a.m. a bag containing a human head during a routine clean-up at the park at 2210 W. Pershing.
The remains have been identified as 20-year-old Quesola Mimms of the 700 block of East 105th Place, a spokeswoman for the Cook County medical examiner's office announced Wednesday.
Her cause and manner of death have not been determined, pending further studies.
Mimms was a young Chicago mother, who family said, disappeared on her way to a new job. CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez reports.
The family of Mimms was too distraught to step before cameras on Wednesday, so community activists Andrew Holmes spoke on their behalf. He said the family heard about the head found in the McKinley Park lagoon in late September, but it never crossed their mind it could be their loved one.
When the sketch was released, an artist's rendition of what the victim may have looked like, her mother said she knew immediately that is was her daughter.
Quesola Mimms, her 20-year-old daughter was also known as KeKe Smith. Now, with positive identification made, the family is planning a burial, even though most of the body is missing.
Mimms was the mother of an 18-month old girl. Her family said she asks for her mommy every day.
The family said they have no idea who would want to hurt KeKe, but are determined to find out who did.
"The family is begging and pleading for your help," Holmes said. "If you have seen her last, or know who was seen with her last, just give us a call."
There is a $2,000 reward for any information that would lead to an arrest and conviction of the suspect who did this to Mimms. If you have any information on the incident, you are asked to call 1-800-U-TELL-US or 1-800-882-5587.
