Body of stabbed woman pulled from Chicago River on North Side

Police are conducting a homicide investigation after pulling a woman with several stab wounds to her face and neck from the North Branch of the Chicago River early Sunday.

Two people saw the body of a woman about 12:15 a.m. in the river near the 3400 block of North Rockwell Street, according to Chicago police.

She appeared to be in her mid 20s, wearing a black shirt and black jeans, police said.

Police and fire personnel pulled her from the water and took her to Swedish Covenant Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said.

Police initially said she was found with head trauma, but clarified later Sunday morning that she had “numerous stab wounds to the neck and face area.”

It’s unclear how long she was in the water or when she was stabbed.

She was identified as Yesenia Venegas, 22, of Humboldt Park, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy to determine the cause and manner of her death was pending.

Her death is the second fatal stabbing of a female in Chicago this weekend.

On Saturday, a 5-year-old girl was fatally stabbed in East Garfield Park, police said. A woman was taken into custody, but no charges have been filed.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.